Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Tuesday accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government of misrepresenting data on stubble burning, alleging that its claims of zero farm fires this year contradicted the registration of hundreds of cases against farmers.
Sirsa claimed that more than 1,000 stubble-burning incidents had been reported in Punjab and that 271 FIRs had been registered in different districts. He also alleged that the state government had spent between ₹20 crore and ₹25 crore on advertisements to project that no stubble burning had taken place in Punjab this year.
“There are more than 1,000 stubble-burning cases that we know of and 271 FIRs filed,” Sirsa said, questioning what he described as a contradiction between the AAP government's public statements and the action being taken against farmers.
Sirsa questions Punjab's claims on farm fires
The Delhi minister accused AAP leaders of misleading the public about the contribution of stubble burning in Punjab to air pollution in the national capital. He said the party had maintained that stubble burning in Punjab was not linked to Delhi's pollution, even as FIRs were being registered against farmers in the state.
In a separate allegation made during a press conference, Sirsa claimed that more than 900 farm fires had been recorded in Punjab over a six-day period between October 26 and November 1. Citing figures for individual days, he said the state had reported 103 incidents on October 26, 33 on October 27, 98 on October 28, 194 on October 29, 292 on October 30 and 31 combined, and 175 on November 1.
He contrasted the figures with 18 incidents in Haryana and 59 in Uttar Pradesh during the same period, while Delhi had reported one such incident, according to the figures he cited.
Sirsa also alleged that Punjab Police personnel and government officials were facilitating stubble burning at certain locations, rather than preventing it. He played videos that he claimed showed instances of farm fires and questioned the state government's handling of the issue.
The minister further questioned the appointment of Reena Gupta as chairperson of the Punjab Pollution Control Board, alleging that her association with AAP and lack of a technical background raised concerns about the credibility of pollution-related data being reported by the state. These claims were made by Sirsa and were not independently established.
Kejriwal accused of taking 'revenge on Delhi'
Sirsa also targeted AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of taking “revenge on Delhi”. He alleged that the party was uncomfortable with the improvement in the capital's air quality under the BJP-led government headed by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
Claiming that October 2026 was Delhi's cleanest October in the past decade, Sirsa said the city had recorded 220 clean-air days so far this year. He further claimed that Delhi's average Air Quality Index (AQI) was around 10 per cent lower than the corresponding levels in previous years.
He attributed the improvement to coordinated efforts by the Rekha Gupta government and residents of the national capital, and urged AAP leaders not to undermine measures being taken to improve Delhi's air quality.
Delhi's air quality deteriorates amid stubble-burning concerns
Sirsa's remarks came as Delhi's air quality deteriorated, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management to invoke Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) after the capital entered the 'Very Poor' category. The commission cited unfavourable meteorological conditions as a factor behind the deterioration. Farm fires in Pakistan's Punjab have also been identified as contributing to the pollution load in the capital.
The debate over stubble burning has once again brought the role of agricultural fires in neighbouring states into focus as Delhi faces seasonal pollution. The issue has also become a point of political confrontation between the BJP government in Delhi and the AAP government in Punjab.
There was no immediate response from the AAP to Sirsa's allegations.