Sirsa Accuses Punjab AAP of Hiding Stubble-Burning Cases

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Tuesday accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab of concealing stubble-burning incidents and misleading the public about farm fires in the state. He claimed that more than 1,000 stubble-burning cases had been recorded and 271 FIRs registered against farmers, despite AAP’s claims that Punjab had reported no farm fires this year.

According to the Press Trust of India (PTI), Sirsa also alleged that the Punjab government had spent Rs 20–25 crore on advertisements to promote its claim that no Stubble Burning had taken place in the state during the year.

Sirsa Claims More Than 1,000 Stubble-Burning Cases in Punjab

Questioning the Punjab government’s public statements, Sirsa said the registration of FIRs against farmers contradicted the claim that the state had recorded zero farm fires.

“There are more than 1,000 stubble-burning cases that we know of and 271 FIRs filed,” Sirsa said.

He accused AAP leaders of misleading people about the contribution of agricultural fires in Punjab to Air Pollution in Delhi. According to Sirsa, the party was denying a connection between stubble burning and the capital’s pollution while cases were being registered against farmers in Punjab.

Sirsa Targets Arvind Kejriwal Over Delhi’s Air Quality

Sirsa also criticised AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of taking “revenge on Delhi”. He alleged that the party was uncomfortable with claims of improving air quality in the national capital under the BJP-led government.

There was no immediate response from AAP to the allegations.

Delhi Minister Claims Improvement in Air Quality

Highlighting the capital’s air quality, Sirsa claimed that October 2026 was Delhi’s cleanest October in a decade. He also said the city had recorded 220 clean-air days so far in 2026.

Sirsa further claimed that Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) was around 10 per cent lower than in previous years. He attributed the improvement to coordinated efforts by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s government and residents.

The claims come amid continuing political disagreements over the sources of Delhi’s air pollution and the role of stubble burning in neighbouring states. Sirsa’s allegations against the Punjab government and AAP had not received an immediate response from the party.