Exclusive: Punjab 1,514 farm fires, Haryana 42: BJP wants no FIRs in Punjab

Chandigarh. The BJP has asked Punjab’s AAP government to stop booking and fining farmers who burn paddy straw, even though its own government in Haryana registers an FIR in every such case. Haryana has also kept fires far lower this season.

ICAR satellite data for September 15 to November 1 shows Punjab recorded 1,514 paddy fires, the highest of seven states, while Haryana recorded just 42. Punjab has about 36 times as many farm fires as its BJP-ruled neighbour.

Former Punjab BJP president Avinash Rai Khanna on Monday said police cases, fines and “red entries” in land records were “in no way a solution” to stubble burning, and called the action proof of the AAP government’s “anti-farmer mindset”.

“Instead of taking action against farmers, the government should understand their difficulties and address their concerns,” Khanna said.

“Imposing additional financial burdens through fines and initiating police action against them under such circumstances is unfortunate,” he added. He said the state should give farmers machines, subsidy, diesel and money on time, and make balers, Happy Seeders and Super Seeders available on rent at village level for small and marginal farmers.

The timing matters. Punjab votes in early 2027, and the BJP’s new state chief, Kewal Singh Dhillon, spoke of farmers’ welfare when he took charge in May.

Haryana does what Khanna opposes

Before this harvest, Haryana ordered three actions in every verified case of paddy stubble burning: an FIR, a challan and a red entry in the farmer’s land record. It is also using a Parali Protection Force, drones and late-evening patrols to catch farmers who burn after dark.

The rule is being applied. In Kaithal’s Nagal village, officials confirmed residue was burnt in farmer Jitender Singh’s field and fined him ₹5,000. In the wheat season earlier this year, nine FIRs were registered against 12 farmers in Karnal, and 172 red entries were made that bar them from selling at MSP for two years.

Haryana’s fires have risen only slightly since Dussehra. The state had just nine cases till October 20, and 33 more from October 21 to November 1. Palwal has the most with seven, followed by Kaithal with five.

Punjab’s count climbing fast

Punjab logged 292 farm fires on Saturday, its highest single day this season, taking its total to 1,339 by state count. That is 18 per cent lower than the 1,642 recorded by the same date last year. Tarn Taran led with 50 fires, followed by Ferozepur and Sangrur.

The Punjab government has not gone soft on farmers so far. Officials have registered 246 FIRs, made red entries against 297 farmers and issued 426 show-cause notices to nodal and supervisory officers.

More fires are likely. Experts expect a rise in Sangrur, Moga, Bathinda and Muktsar as harvesting picks up and wheat sowing begins. On Sunday, the Commission for Air Quality Management told officials in seven Punjab districts to tighten monitoring and enforcement.

What it means for Delhi-NCR

Delhi’s AQI slipped to 261 on Sunday, the worst reading of the season, as winter pollution curbs kicked in. Estimates showed stubble burning contributed up to 18.5 per cent of the capital’s pollution. Forecasters expect “poor” to “very poor” air over the coming week.

A Climate Trends analysis released last week, however, found farm fires in Punjab and Haryana barely moved Delhi’s AQI in September-October, with local sources playing a bigger role.

BJP speaks in two voices

Khanna’s line also cuts against his party’s Delhi leaders. On October 23, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa attacked AAP on X, saying fires were raging even more now that AAP rules Punjab and calling it the AAP government’s incompetence.

The next day, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema accused BJP leaders of repeatedly demanding cases against farmers and called it proof of their anti-farmer mindset. He said the Mann government had given farmers machinery worth over ₹800 crore. A week later, a BJP leader is using the same “anti-farmer” charge against AAP.