KEJRI CALLS STUBBLE BURNING A DISEASE, AAP PLANS PROTEST
NEWDELHI: Tagging stubble burning as a ‘disease’, which is taking a toll on Delhi’s air quality, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal urged people to build pressure on the BJP and Congress governments of neighbouring states to bring down incidents of crop residue burning.
Hitting back, chief minister of Punjab Amarinder Singh dismissed Kejriwal’s claim as a political stunt.
To take the CM’s call forward, the Aam Aadmi Party would organise a demonstration outside Haryana Bhawan and Punjab Bhawan in New Delhi over the alleged inaction by the two states in controlling stubble burning.
“The air quality was in moderate category till October 15 this year. The sudden deterioration in pollution levels after October 15 was due to stubble burning. If we don’t contain the causes of a disease, it is pointless to treat for mere symptoms. All of us must build pressure of the governments of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh,” Kejriwal said.
Government agencies said Wednesday, smoke from the stubble-burning regions of Punjab and Haryana contributed around 35% to the city’s PM2.5 levels.
“Delhi is choking because of the stubble burning in neighbouring states. I want to request BJP and Congress to pressure governments of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab to provide facilities and equipment to farmers to stop them from burning stubble. Bringing down incidents of stubble burning will improve Delhi’s air drastically,” he added.
“Kejriwal’s claim that stubble burning in neighbouring states was responsible for the horrendous situation in Delhi was absolutely ludicrous, especially considering that the number of farm fires in Punjab had actually been the same as last year,” said Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh, adding that statements issued by the Delhi CM was more of a political stunt.
AAP’s proposed protest outside Punjab Bhawan over the alleged inaction by the state in controlling stubble burning is an obvious political stunt with an eye on the upcoming polls. CAPT AMARINDER SINGH, Punjab chief minister