The adjournment of the Parliament's Winter session has led to one of the biggest discussions, Delhi’s air pollution, being put on hold.
The session was adjourned sine die on December 19, 2025.
While several bills, including the VB-G RAM G bill and the Shani bill, were passed, the elephant in the room went unaddressed.
Opposition MPs had tried repeatedly to bring up the subject on the floor of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha throughout the 19-day sessions in the parliament.
However, the debate fell through as the toxic smog and hazardous air quality continue to affect the residents of the city.
The subject was scheduled for the final day of the Winter session in the Lok Sabha, and MPs Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, and Bansuri Swaraj were expected to highlight the matter.
Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav was scheduled to respond to pollution in the Lok Sabha at around 6 pm on Thursday. Priyanka Gandhi was scheduled to initiate the debate on behalf of the opposition.
However, just an hour after the house assembled on Thursday, opposition MPs raised slogans against the G RAM G bill set to replace the MNREGA scheme. The uproar shut down the house. The bill was later passed and approved in the Rajya Sabha as the opposition continued to oppose the bill.
VIDEO | Delhi: On the Parliament Winter Session, Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) says, “Till yesterday noon, we were expecting and were fully prepared for a discussion on air pollution in the Lok Sabha. The government’s claim that it… pic.twitter.com/SyXytI1ycM
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 19, 2025
Several Congress MPs submitted adjournment notices for an immediate discussion on pollution. Kanyakumari MP Vijay Vasanth demanded that a national health emergency be declared in Delhi-NCR. However, the efforts were in vain.
The cancellation of the discussion received major flak online as it was expected to happen.
Sources who were close to speakers said that MPs cut across party lines and asked Speaker Om Birla to not take up the matter due to the “deteriorating atmosphere” in the House.
Congress general Secratary Jairam Ramesh said, “Till yesterday noon, we were expecting and were fully prepared for a discussion on air pollution in the Lok Sabha. The government’s claim that it wanted a discussion is a mere show-off, and I reject it. This is the same government that told the House there is no link between air pollution and the lungs. They have repeatedly claimed that air pollution has no effect on death rates. Fearing exposure and expecting us to present facts, the government ran away from the discussion.”
On Thursday, the Union Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh, said that there was no conclusive data establishing a direct link between AQI levels and lung diseases. He later admitted in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha that air pollution is one of the major causes of respiratory diseases and related ailments.
The response was to a question by BJP MP Laxmikant Bajpai who questioned if the government was aware about studies that confirmed that prolonged exposure to hazardous AQI levels in Delhi-NCR is causing lung fibrosis, an irreversible reduction in lung capacity. The MP had also asked if the government has any "solutions" to protect millions of Delhi/NCR residents from life-threatening diseases like pulmonary fibrosis, COPD, emphysema, reduced lung function, and progressive decline in lung elasticity.
The minister listed off several programs and initiatives by the government in his response.
The smog continues to choke the city with AQI readings standing above 400. The discussion on air pollution may not take place until the next Budget Session of 2026.
