Delhi CM Atishi blames BJP-led centre for worsening air quality in North India

On a day Supreme Court rapped Delhi government over implementation of GRAP, chief minister Atishi blamed the BJP-led Centre for increasing incidents of stubble burning and worsening air quality in north India.

Lobbing the ball in the Centre's court to find a solution for stubble burning in north India, Atishi said, "North India is facing a health emergency today, with cities across the region recording 'severe' and 'very poor' AQI levels." Providing data on stubble burning, she acknowledged that Punjab had made significant progress in reducing such incidents to 8,404 this year while cases of stubble burning have increased in BJP-ruled Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. "There is a 60% increase in cases of stubble burning in Uttar Pradesh while Madhya Pradesh currently has the highest rate of stubble burning, with over 700 incidents reported daily," Atishi said adding, "For the past six to seven years, stubble burning incidents have been increasing across the country," Atishi said. "If Punjab can achieve an 80% reduction, why can't other states?"