Delhi minister Kapil Mishra has demanded an investigation into what he described as a sudden rise in stubble-burning incidents in Punjab during Diwali, alleging that the increase contributed to severe air pollution across the region. Mishra urged Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to order a probe, register FIRs and identify those responsible for the fires.
At a news conference on Monday, Mishra claimed that satellite data showed around 100 to 125 stubble-burning incidents a day between November 5 and 7. According to him, the reported number rose sharply to nearly 1,200 on November 8, which was Diwali. He described the increase as suspicious and said it required an investigation.
“On Nov 7, stubble burning incidents were reported at approximately 125 locations. How did the number suddenly rise to 1,200 on Diwali? How did the figure increase by more than 10 times? This is a matter of serious concern,” Mishra said.
Mishra also said he had received calls from farmers in Punjab who alleged that their fields were deliberately set on fire while they were celebrating Diwali with their families. He described the alleged incidents as a conspiracy against farmers, Diwali, Delhi and Punjab, while adding that farmers had been making efforts to reduce stubble burning. He said some fires could have occurred due to unavoidable circumstances, but questioned the sudden appearance of a large number of incidents.
The minister called for FIRs to be registered in every stubble-burning case. He also suggested examining the phone records of Aam Aadmi Party MLAs and political functionaries in the affected areas, along with the records of people who travelled from Delhi to Punjab. The report did not include a response from the Punjab government to these allegations.
Mishra cited claimed air-quality readings of 1,238 in Malout, 1,307 in Abohar and 1,651 in Sangrur on Monday morning. The report did not provide details of the monitoring instruments or stations behind these readings. The figures were presented by Mishra as evidence of alarming pollution levels in Punjab.
Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor separately alleged that AAP and Congress leaders were unfairly blaming firecrackers for pollution and hurting Hindu sentiments. Citing Central Pollution Control Board data, Kapoor said Delhi’s air-quality index was 358 on the morning after Diwali in 2023 and 341 in 2024, compared with 368 this year. He said the reading was 364 on the morning of Diwali, November 8.
Kapoor argued that these figures did not indicate an unprecedented pollution spike caused by firecrackers and alleged that stubble burning in Punjab was contributing to Delhi’s poor air quality. He also questioned how Punjab had used funds provided by the Centre to address crop-residue burning. The reported demands now place the focus on the source of the alleged fire increase, the use of crop-residue management funds and the response of Punjab authorities.
