More hot air from our iron-lunged MPs

Not too long ago, air pollution was dismissed as a 'soft, First World' issue by 'We are like this only' India, buried inside newspaper pages and absent from public conversation, never mind debate. As the crisis worsened - and evidence mounted on health and economic damage - India's noxious air forced its way into daily conversations, signalling a shift in public urgency. Parliament, however, remains remarkably detached, with representatives of the people magically unaffected by what's not just a national shame, but national emergency that isn't confined to northern parts of India. One would have reckoned that a discussion would take up much of Parliament's winter session, a platform where policy is moulded and formed, not in TV studios. Yet, on Friday, winter session ended after parties agreed that the environment (sic) was not 'congenial enough' in the House to discuss pollution. You bet the environment isn't congenial enough.

To add a scoff to your cough, a day earlier, environment minister Kirti Vardhan Singh replied to a query in Rajya Sabha by stating that there was no conclusive data that establishes a 'direct correlation' between higher AQI and lung diseases. For GoI, it seems Indians are blessed with an incredible set of lungs. A substantive discussion in Parliament on pollution now seems unlikely before the 2026 budget session. Who knows? Maybe another round of debate on Vande Mataram will ensue. By then, the air may well have 'improved' - and voila! - pollution concerns will be put on the back burner.

The decision to walk away from discussion this week is dereliction of duty. Opposition had an opportunity to ask government tough questions - demanding answers, proposing solutions. Instead, we will get plenty more hot air.