AAP accuses BJP of blaming Punjab farmers for Delhi pollution
The Aam Aadmi Party claims the BJP is making farmers scapegoats while ignoring multiple sources of pollution in the national capital.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for blaming Punjab’s farmers for Delhi’s air pollution, according to reports by Hindustan Times and Urban Acres. AAP state media in-charge Baltej Pannu alleged that BJP leaders are making farmers scapegoats instead of addressing various pollution sources in the capital.
Delhi BJP minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa accused the Punjab government of concealing stubble-burning figures. Citing satellite data, Sirsa said 933 stubble-burning incidents were recorded in Punjab between October 26 and November 1, with 175 cases on November 1 alone. He also alleged a discrepancy between Punjab Police records and government data.
AAP leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj and Anurag Dhanda rejected these claims, stating that stubble-burning incidents in Punjab have fallen from approximately 5,000 last year to about 1,000 this year. They argued that Madhya Pradesh accounts for 52 per cent of stubble-burning incidents nationally and noted increasing cases in Uttar Pradesh.
The AAP also accused the Delhi government of manipulating air-quality readings. The party alleged that water was being sprayed near the Jahangirpuri monitoring station to lower recorded pollution levels. Saurabh Bharadwaj has called for an impartial inquiry into these monitoring practices and the alleged water spraying.
Pannu further stated that the Centre refused to share the financial burden of stubble management despite offers from the Punjab government. He challenged BJP leaders to visit Punjab to witness the ground reality regarding paddy stubble management.