AAP, BJP engage in blame game over Delhi pollution and Punjab stubble burning

A political blame game erupted over the worsening air quality in the national capital, with Delhi minister Kapil Mishra alleging a "suspicious" sudden spike in stubble-burning incidents in AAP-ruled Punjab on Diwali, which AAP dismissed saying smoke from Punjab "cannot reach Delhi in 10 minutes". AAP also accused the BJP-ruled Delhi government of "fraud" in pollution data by installing AQI monitoring stations near "green areas" and by sprinkling water near stations. Bharadwaj's remarks came after Delhi minister Kapil Mishra called for an investigation into alleged spike in stubble-burning incidents in Punjab on the day of Diwali. Mishra on Monday claimed that his office and other government representatives had received calls from Punjab, with farmers alleging that their fields were deliberately set on fire while they were celebrating Diwali with their families. Punjab witnessed its sharpest single-day spike in paddy stubble-burning incidents this season on Diwali, with 1,152 farm fires reported across the state, according to official data.