As a result of their year-long protests against the three contentious farm laws of the Centre, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann charged the BJP-led Central Government with targeting Punjab farmers for stubble burning.
“We asked the Centre to offer incentives to farmers who don’t burn paddy stubble, but they declined. Biogas industry promotion was even requested by us, but they did not do so. Punjab farmers have been fighting these three contentious farm laws for a year, and now they are defaming them for it,” he said.
Despite similar incidents being reported in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, the Centre accuses Punjab farmers of stubble-burning. “It shows how they are politicizing this issue. What is the point of questioning only Punjab’s AQI when Faridabad in Haryana has the worst AQI? Farmers in Haryana and Rajasthan have also burned stubble, he said.
Punjab’s government is frequently asked by the Centre about the number of cases against farmers there. Is there a reason why we should book farmers? Is it true that they are criminals? asked the Chief Minister.
