Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Rajya Sabha member Manas Ranjan Mangaraj on Thursday, December 11, appealed to the Union government to shift the winter and budget sessions of Parliament from Delhi until the air quality improves.
The leader described the capital’s annual pollution crisis as a “man-made disaster” and said Parliament must show that the right to life precedes condemnation.
Mangaraj, who hails from Odisha, raised the issue during Zero Hour, drawing parallels between his state’s effective response to natural disasters and the need for similar urgency to tackle air pollution in Delhi.
“Coming from Odisha, a state that has been fighting cyclones, floods and natural disasters with unparalleled discipline, I know what a crisis looks like. But what worries me is… Delhi,” he said during the winter session of Parliament that began on December 1.
The BJD leader highlighted the daily exposure to toxic air faced by members, parliamentary officers, drivers, hygienists and security personnel who keep the House functional. “We can’t ignore their suffering. We can’t pretend it’s normal,” he said, adding that holding key parliamentary sessions during peak pollution months was unnecessarily putting lives at risk.
Mangaraj suggested several cities with cleaner air and adequate infrastructure as potential alternatives, including Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, Gandhinagar, Bengaluru, Goa and Dehradun.
“If Odisha can evacuate thousands of people in a matter of hours during a cyclone and precisely save lives, then surely the Indian government can postpone two sessions of Parliament to protect the health of its own members and staff,” he argued.
“Not politically motivated”
Emphasizing that his motion was not politically motivated, Mangaraj said: “This is not about politics. It is about life and dignity. Parliament must show leadership. Parliament must show that the right to life comes before condemnation.”
He called on the Government to immediately launch a structured consultation to explore the feasibility of rotating parliamentary sittings to cities with better air quality in the winter months.
This is not about politics. This is about life and dignity.
Delhi’s air quality typically deteriorates sharply between October and January due to a combination of factors, including stubble burning, vehicle emissions, construction dust and weather conditions that trap pollutants. The winter session, which includes major legislative and budget sessions, coincides with the peak pollution season.
The overall air quality in Delhi remained in the ‘poor’ category on Wednesday (December 10, 2025) and is likely to deteriorate to ‘very poor’ from Thursday (December 11, 2025), according to official data.
