A senior Delhi minister has leveled serious accusations against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), claiming the party is coercing farmers in Punjab to burn crop residue. Manjinder Singh Sirsa stated that farmers are being forced to cover their faces while setting stubble on fire, suggesting a deliberate effort to impact air quality in Delhi. Sirsa presented video evidence from areas like Tarn Taran and Bathinda to support his allegations.
He further asserted that the AAP is intentionally politicizing religious events and festivals. According to Sirsa, the party’s alleged ban on firecrackers in Delhi during Diwali was a calculated move to gain votes from a specific community. He criticized AAP leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh, for their statements against Diwali celebrations, calling it a “Sanatan Hindu festival.”
Meanwhile, data from the Punjab Pollution Control Board indicates a rise in stubble burning incidents across Punjab, with Tarn Taran and Amritsar districts reporting the highest numbers. This practice, a common issue during the paddy harvest season, contributes significantly to the deteriorating air quality in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) as farmers rush to clear fields for the upcoming wheat crop.