Punjab News:Punjab Records Nearly 95% Drop In Stubble Burning Incidents This Year: Aman Arora
BJP Hates Punjab, That’s Why It Is Blaming Punjabi Farmers For Delhi’s Pollution Despite Scientific Data Refuting Its Claims: Aman Arora
Which Technology Makes Punjab’s Stubble Smoke Reach Delhi In Just 20 Minutes? BJP Must Answer Instead Of Blaming Punjab’s Farmers: Aman Arora
Central Research Data Exposes BJP’s Propaganda Against Punjab’s Farmers: Aman Arora
BJP Must Apologise Unconditionally For Defaming Punjab’s Farmers: Aman Arora
Bhagwant Mann Govt Builds Scientific Stubble Management Ecosystem With 1.62 Lakh Machines; BJP Continues To Play Politics Over Farmers’ Efforts: Aman Arora
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab President and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora on Tuesday challenged the BJP to explain how Punjab’s stubble smoke could reach Delhi in just 20 minutes, as he exposed its campaign against the state’s farmers with data from central research institutions. Pointing out that stubble smoke contributed just 5% to Delhi’s PM2.5 pollution on November 9, he said Punjab had achieved a nearly 95% reduction in stubble-burning incidents this year.
The AAP Punjab President credited farmers’ cooperation and the Bhagwant Mann Government’s sustained efforts, backed by over 1.62 lakh crop residue management machines, and demanded an unconditional apology from the BJP for maligning Punjab’s farmers instead of addressing the real sources of Delhi’s pollution. He demanded an unconditional apology from the BJP for repeatedly maligning Punjab’s farmers, while detailing the state government’s extensive crop residue management initiatives and seeking an immediate enhancement of the Centre-approved Cash Credit Limit (CCL) for uninterrupted paddy procurement.
Citing data from the CREAMS laboratory of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), AAP Punjab President and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora said Punjab had recorded 83,002 stubble-burning incidents in 2020, which declined to 5,114 in 2025. The number had further fallen to 4,657 so far this season, marking a nearly 95% reduction compared to 2020. “This remarkable reduction has been achieved because Punjab’s farmers have cooperated wholeheartedly and the Bhagwant Singh Mann Government has provided them with practical alternatives and necessary resources,” he noted.
The AAP Punjab President asserted, “Instead of recognising these efforts, the BJP is deliberately running a campaign to defame the very farmers who have made such a significant contribution towards reducing stubble burning.”
Referring to data from SAFAR (System of Air Quality And Weather Forecasting and Research) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Aman Arora said stubble smoke accounted for 7.8% of Delhi’s PM2.5 pollution on November 8, the day of Diwali, before falling to just 5% on November 9. He added that its average contribution over the season remained between 4% and 5% when two days were excluded.”
“Research by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), studies by Kulkarni and co-authors, and reports from the Decision Support System (DSS) clearly underline the significant contribution of local sources to Delhi’s pollution. The BJP must explain why it is deliberately ignoring this scientific evidence and attempting to make Punjab’s farmers the scapegoats for Delhi’s pollution crisis,” Aman Arora said.
Highlighting the state government’s comprehensive efforts to eliminate stubble burning, Aman Arora said that more than 1.62 lakh crop residue management machines had been provided at subsidised rates to farmers, panchayats, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Custom Hiring Centres since 2022. Of these, 25,917 machines had been provided during the current year alone.
“The Bhagwant Mann Government is working towards the scientific management of approximately 1.14 crore tonnes of stubble in the fields and 78 lakh tonnes outside the fields. We are not merely asking farmers to stop burning crop residue; we are providing them with the machinery, infrastructure and viable alternatives required to manage it scientifically,” he said.
Sharing details of the initiatives undertaken through the Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA), Aman Arora said 83 stubble-fired industrial boilers were operational, while another 16 were being installed. “Similarly, 78 stubble pellet projects are operational, with another 69 at different stages of development. Eleven biomass power plants and nine compressed biogas (CBG) plants are also operational, while Letters of Intent have been issued for another 44 CBG projects,” he added.
“These projects demonstrate how Punjab is transforming agricultural residue into a productive economic resource. The Mann Government is building a sustainable ecosystem that benefits farmers, industry and the environment, rather than resorting to political blame games,” he added.
Taking on BJP leaders Kapil Mishra and Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Aman Arora termed their remarks against Punjab’s farmers baseless and challenged Punjab BJP leaders Sunil Jakhar and Kewal Singh Dhillon to publicly clarify their position. “Why is the BJP targeting Punjab’s farmers through drone surveillance when farm fires are already being monitored through satellite technology? Is the objective to find scientific solutions or to intimidate farmers? Punjab’s farmers have made tremendous efforts to reduce stubble burning, and instead of appreciating their contribution, BJP leaders are insulting them. The BJP must issue an unconditional apology to Punjab and its farmers,” he asserted.
On paddy procurement, Aman Arora reiterated that the Bhagwant Singh Mann Government was committed to procuring every single grain of paddy from farmers and ensuring its proper storage. He said the Cash Credit Limit (CCL) of approximately ₹40,000 crore approved by the Centre had been fully utilised, necessitating its immediate enhancement in view of this year’s bumper crop.
“The bumper paddy production this year is the result of favourable weather conditions and the availability of canal water even at the tail ends of Punjab’s irrigation network. Our government is committed to ensuring that not a single farmer faces any difficulty in selling their produce. We have urged the Centre to immediately increase the CCL so that procurement operations and payments to farmers continue without interruption,” he said.
Aman Arora further said that strict surveillance are being maintained along Punjab’s borders to prevent the illegal entry of paddy from neighbouring states, adding that the government was taking all necessary measures to protect the interests of Punjab’s farmers.
1984 Sikh Massacre Remains Deep Wound; Congress Failed To Support Victim Families: Aman Arora
Responding to questions from reporters about Punjab’s history, Aman Arora said the military assault on Sri Darbar Sahib and the 1984 Sikh massacre had inflicted deep and lasting wounds on Punjab and the Sikh community. “The military assault on Sri Darbar Sahib and the 1984 Sikh massacre remain painful chapters in our history. The Congress failed to take the necessary steps to support the families affected by the massacre. The pain and suffering of those families cannot be forgotten,” he said.
Commenting on former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi’s cycle yatra, Aman Arora said internal divisions within the Congress would prevent the exercise from making any meaningful difference to the party’s political fortunes.