Thousands of workers and factory owners took to the streets in New Delhi, India, last week following an order by the Supreme Court to shut down polluting factories in residential sections of the city, one of the most polluted metropolitan areas in the world. After two days of protests, three deaths, dozens of injuries, and many damaged buildings and vehicles, the government began backing off its pollution plan and considering changes that could keep open up to 60 percent of the factories facing closure. Factory workers are pushing for more concessions, and today tens of thousands are participating in a one-day strike. Para-military anti-riot forces have been brought into the city and extra police are on duty in case violence breaks out again.
