Sirsa accuses AAP of misrepresenting Punjab stubble-burning data
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa alleged that 271 FIRs have been filed against farmers despite claims of no farm fires.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Tuesday accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab of providing inaccurate information regarding stubble burning. According to reports by Hindustan Times and The New Indian Express, Sirsa alleged that while the party claims there have been no farm fire incidents this year, 271 FIRs have actually been registered against farmers across various Punjab districts.
The minister claimed the Punjab government spent between Rs 20-25 crore on advertisements to suggest that stubble burning was not occurring in the state. Sirsa stated that there are more than 1,000 known stubble-burning cases, noting a contradiction between the party's public statements and the legal actions taken against farmers.
Sirsa also accused AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal of seeking revenge on Delhi due to improvements in the capital's air quality under the BJP government. He stated that Delhi has recorded 220 clean-air days this year and that the average Air Quality Index (AQI) is approximately 10 per cent lower than in previous years.
Speaking to CNN-News18, Sirsa said the responsibility for managing air pollution now rests with Punjab. He alleged that winds carrying pollutants from Punjab, Haryana, and Pakistan contribute to the air quality issues in Delhi.
The minister noted that Delhi residents have cooperated with pollution control measures, such as halting construction and reducing vehicle use. There has been no immediate response from the AAP regarding these allegations.