New Delhi: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, on Tuesday, expressed concern over the alarming levels of pollution in the national capital and convened an emergency meeting of Delhi Congress leaders to discuss the issue.


She directed the top leaders including Delhi Congress president Subhash Chopra, PC Chacko, national organization general secretary KC Venugopal and treasurer Ahmed Patel, to launch a mass awareness campaign to help people combat the pollution problems, which includes distributing masks and setting up medical camps for the poorer section of the society, including rickshaw pullers and auto drivers.

"The campaign will not benefit the poor, but also connect us with the people emotionally," said a leader who was present at the meeting.

Priyanka also instructed leaders to join hands to combat pollution and refrain from playing the blame game.

Priyanka was concerned about the poor, who she said was bearing the brunt of the air pollution. "Delhi Congress should therefore conduct an awareness campaign among the poor and help them. Assistance of NGOs could be taken to start a mass movement against pollution,” news agency ANI reported Priyanka as saying.

The sources said Priyanka was of the view that the Kejriwal government's odd-even car rationing scheme was ineffective in combating pollution.

The issue of stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, a major cause of Delhi pollution, was also raised in the meeting.