Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Anurag Dhanda has criticised the BJP over its remarks concerning stubble burning in Punjab, urging the party to focus on reported figures from other states. Citing data on farm-fire incidents, Dhanda claimed that Punjab, under the Bhagwant Mann-led government, had recorded a 95 per cent reduction in stubble-burning incidents through cooperation with farmers.
Anurag Dhanda Cites Stubble-Burning Data
In a social media post, Dhanda contrasted Punjab’s reported progress with trends in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. He claimed that stubble-burning incidents in Madhya Pradesh were increasing at an annual rate of 153 per cent and that the state accounted for 52 per cent of all such incidents reported across the country.
Claims Punjab Reduced Incidents by 95 Per Cent
Dhanda further alleged that stubble-burning incidents in Uttar Pradesh were rising by 25–30 per cent annually. He accused BJP governments of failing to provide farmers with adequate assistance and resources to manage crop residue, arguing that farmers needed practical support and alternatives to burning.
The AAP leader’s remarks came amid the ongoing political debate over stubble burning and its contribution to air pollution in northern India. Dhanda maintained that Punjab’s efforts, carried out in coordination with farmers, should be acknowledged rather than the state being singled out over the issue.
The figures and growth rates cited by Dhanda are his claims. Separately, ICAR data reported by the media for September 15 to November 1, 2026, recorded 1,514 incidents in Punjab, 566 in Madhya Pradesh and 345 in Uttar Pradesh. These figures cover a specific period and do not, by themselves, establish the annual growth rates cited in his post.
