Delhi’s Environment Minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, has accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of actively compelling farmers in Punjab to burn stubble. During a press conference, Sirsa displayed videos purportedly showing farmers in Tarn Taran and Bathinda with their faces covered while engaging in stubble burning. He alleged that this is being done intentionally to worsen Delhi’s air pollution.
Sirsa also suggested a pattern of religious insensitivity by the AAP, claiming that the party deliberately targets Hindu festivals for political gain. He pointed to the ban on firecrackers in Delhi as an example, suggesting it was aimed at appeasing a particular voter base. The minister criticized AAP leaders for their public condemnation of Diwali, asserting that it is a significant festival for the Hindu community and not solely associated with any political party.
Recent statistics reveal a concerning increase in stubble burning incidents in Punjab. The Punjab Pollution Control Board has recorded 308 such cases, with Tarn Taran and Amritsar leading the tally. This perennial problem arises from the short window between paddy harvest and the planting of the next crop, leading many farmers to resort to burning as a quick method of clearing fields, a practice that has severe environmental consequences for the NCR.