Regardless of whether the government in Delhi is AAP, BJP, or Congress, every winter season the blanket of smoke in the environment, vehicle/factory emissions, and pollution from firecrackers during Diwali is blamed on Punjab.
SNPNEWS.IN News Update (Gurmail Kamboj): The current Delhi government ministers and MLAs, Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, have once again shifted the blame for deteriorating Delhi’s air quality during Diwali days onto Punjab, just like the previous AAP and Congress governments, to evade their own responsibilities.
If we carefully examine the Air Quality Index (AQI) data of Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi over the past week, the accusations by Delhi governments appear baseless. In early October, AQI was around 200 or less, but from October 18 onward, AQI started rising not just in Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab but across the country.
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Stubble burning in Punjab-Haryana decreased by 77%, yet AQI rose in Delhi as well as Haryana and Punjab. This is because firecrackers worth 1000-1200 crore rupees purchased in Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab between October 16-23 made a significant contribution to increasing pollution. Data shows that Delhi residents alone burst firecrackers worth 500-700 crore rupees between October 16-23. In addition, local sources (vehicles, dust) had an impact during Diwali days.
Manjinder Singh Sirsa (BJP leader and Delhi government Environment Minister) has blamed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the rising pollution and AQI in Delhi after Diwali (October 20, 2025), accusing them of doing politics by holding Diwali responsible for pollution and trying to please a specific vote bank (farmers). Sirsa emphasized that the main cause of pollution is stubble burning in Punjab, which the AAP-led Punjab government has encouraged. He claimed that they received several photos of stubble burning from Punjab despite attempts to hide it, and he also praised the Delhi government’s measures, which resulted in only a slight increase in AQI.
Additionally, Rekha Gupta (Delhi’s Chief Minister, BJP) has also targeted the AAP government for the rising pollution in Delhi after Diwali (October 20, 2025), stating that they have failed to stop stubble burning in Punjab. The Chief Minister praised her government’s measures and identified stubble burning in Punjab as the main cause. She also criticized the AAP government for failing to prevent stubble burning in Punjab.
The Punjab government (AAP) has rejected Delhi’s claims, stating that the BJP government is evading its responsibilities by blaming Punjab for Delhi’s AQI and pollution increase. Meanwhile, stubble burning incidents in Punjab have decreased by 60-70% from September 15 to October 23.
Contrary to the claims of Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Delhi’s AQI from October 19-21 tells the real story:
October 19
● 7 AM: 257-274
● 4 PM: 290-350 (Bad, Bawana 315)
● 10 PM: 300-380 (Anand Vihar 350, Very Poor)
October 20
● 8 AM: 341-380 (Anand Vihar 380, Very Poor)
● 4 PM: 392-460 (Anand Vihar 460, Very Poor)
● 10 PM: 425-480 (Wazirpur 480, Very Poor)
● 11 PM: 590-612 (New Delhi 612, Very Poor)
● After midnight: 380-410 (Anand Vihar 410, Very Poor)
October 21
● 8 AM: 350-360 (Anand Vihar 360, Very Poor)
● 9 AM: 400+ (Bawana 420, Very Poor)
● 4 PM: 390-558 (Anand Vihar 558, Punjabi Bagh 390, Dwarka 417, Wazirpur 423, Very Poor)
● 10 PM: 400+ (Anand Vihar 404, 4 metro stations closed)
On October 22, smog persisted and AQI remained between 350-518. On October 23, conditions appeared slightly better by afternoon, with AQI noted around 300-400.