India, Nov. 28 -- Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday sharply criticised the central government over deteriorating air quality across the country, saying parents everywhere are afraid for their children's health as pollution levels continue to remain in the "hazardous" range in several cities.

In a strongly worded social media post, Gandhi said that "every mother" he meets shares the same fear, that her child is "growing up breathing toxic air." He said families are "exhausted, scared and angry" as air pollution worsens year after year with no clear intervention from the Centre.

Calling the situation a "health emergency," the Congress MP accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of remaining silent despite India's children "choking in fro...