Internet Criticises Delhi Protest Organisers After Slogans Spark Clash and Distract From Pollution Issue

A protest against Delhi’s toxic air pollution at India Gate on Sunday descended into violence and controversy after a section of demonstrators raised pro-Maoist slogans and attacked police personnel with chili spray, prompting widespread online backlash against the organizers. What began as a citizen-led demonstration under the banner “Delhi Against Clean Air” was quickly overshadowed when members of two fringe groups—Himkhand and Bhagat Singh Chhatra Ekta Manch (BSCEM)—began chanting in support of Madvi Hidma, a top CPI (Maoist) commander killed in an encounter earlier this month in Andhra Pradesh.

Scientists for Society (SFS), one of the co-organizing entities, issued a statement on Monday distancing itself from the slogans, insisting the protest was “solely against air pollution” and that the Maoist references were introduced without prior intimation. The group condemned the “extrajudicial encounter” of Hidma while simultaneously declaring the issue inappropriate for an environmental demonstration, claiming its members attempted to stop the chants before continuing the protest separately. SFS accused Himkhand and bsCEM of acting in an “undemocratic” and “adventurist” manner that violated the joint front’s agreed mandate.

Social media users reacted with fury, accusing the organizers of either naïvety or complicity in allowing extremist elements to hijack a genuine public health cause. “You have betrayed the trust placed by the good people of Delhi,” one widely shared post read, while others questioned SFS’s own credentials and its decision to partner with groups known for radical politics. Many expressed frustration that the incident handed the government an easy narrative to discredit the entire anti-pollution movement as politically motivated rather than citizen-driven.

Also Read: Volcanic Ash From Ethiopia Reaches Delhi at 120 km/h, But AQI Stays Unchanged

Delhi Police confirmed that protesters blocked traffic without permission for nearly an hour before breaking barricades and assaulting officers, leaving three to four personnel injured. Cases have been registered, and investigations are underway to identify those responsible for the violence and the provocative slogans. The episode has intensified calls for stricter regulation of public demonstrations in the national capital, particularly when sensitive political issues risk overshadowing urgent civic concerns like the ongoing air-quality crisis.

Also Read: Brutal Chicago Train Attack Leaves Young Woman Burned as Suspect With 50+ Cases Faces Terror Charges