Delhi pollution crisis: Punjab CM Mann declines to meet BJP delegation

With Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching alarming levels and residents suffering from severe pollution, a high-level BJP delegation sought to meet Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann at Kapurthala House to address the pressing issue of stubble burning, a major contributor to air quality deterioration.

However, Mann declined to meet the delegation, prompting them to submit a memorandum to the Punjab Resident Commissioner’s office instead.

'Delhi Govt insensitive'

"The Delhi Government is insensitive. It is unfortunate that the government refuses to discuss serious issues like pollution. The Punjab CM's refusal to meet us demonstrates the AAP’s lack of commitment to addressing these concerns." - Virendra Sachdeva, Delhi BJP President

Led by Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva, the delegation included prominent figures such as Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta and MPs Manoj Tiwari, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri and Bansuri Swaraj. "Incidents of stubble burning and the areas affected are increasing in Punjab, significantly contributing to pollution across North India, including Delhi," Sachdeva stated. He criticised the Delhi Government's Environment Minister Gopal Rai for failing to engage with Punjab on this critical issue.

The air quality in Delhi has deteriorated, with the AQI recently reaching 400. Sachdeva noted, "Today, Delhi is referred to as the world's most polluted capital, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government continues to show negligence regarding pollution control."

Vijender Gupta echoed this concern, saying, "The Delhi Government is insensitive. It is unfortunate that the government refuses to discuss serious issues like pollution. The Punjab CM's refusal to meet us demonstrates the AAP’s lack of commitment to addressing these concerns."

MP Manoj Tiwari accused the Delhi government of betraying residents over pollution issues, stating, "They are defending Punjab’s failure to control stubble burning. This is unacceptable."

BJP MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri criticised Arvind Kejriwal for changing his stance since taking power in Punjab. "Until 2021, he blamed Punjab for Delhi’s pollution. Now, he defends the state and shifts blame to other regions," Bidhuri remarked.

Swaraj and MP Praveen Khandelwal highlighted a significant increase in stubble burning incidents since the AAP took power in Punjab, with figures showing an increase from 15.64 lakh hectares in 2021 to 19 lakh hectares in 2023. Swaraj stated, "If they are not willing to engage in dialogue, how will solutions be found?"

The memorandum submitted by the BJP leaders emphasised their concerns for Delhi residents, calling for immediate action as winter approaches. It included alarming statistics from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, showing that on October 26 alone, Punjab accounted for 108 out of 360 stubble burning incidents across the region.