As the air pollution in the national capital and neighbouring areas continue to rise, Punjab Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has slammed Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar over the issue of stubble burning and said that the latter should "stop politics" and should "stand" with the farmers.

His response came after CM Khattar attacked the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accusing it of "not paying much attention" to the crop burning residue in Punjab, and said that "the State government should adopt the measures taken by his government as noted by a Supreme Court bench a day earlier".

Speaking to ANI on Tuesday about the issue of stubble burning, Minister Cheema said, "This time, the number of stubble burning cases has increased the most in Haryana. There was a 70 percent reduction (in stubble burning) in Punjab this season between October and November."

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"Haryana CM Khattar should stop doing politics on this and should stand with the farmers. Why is the Centre not helping farmers?" the Punjab Minister added.

Meanwhile, CM Khattar lashed out at the Delhi Chief Minister for making political statements over the issue, and said, "These are not the topics of politics. The CM of Delhi should also understand this. The political statements made by him are not appropriate."

Earlier on Tuesday, the Supreme Court suggested that the farmers who engage in stubble burning be deprived of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) benefits as a part of the economic repercussions of their actions. This came as the apex court was hearing a plea related to rising air pollution in Delhi-NCR.

Punjab should also take a cue from Haryana in the manner in which financial incentives are given (to farmers to refrain from crop residue burning), the bench suggested.

(With ANI inputs)


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