Sirsa slams Kejriwal over Punjab pollution surge, cites Bathinda AQI at 1,100
Synopsis
Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa escalated the BJP-AAP pollution war on Tuesday, citing Barnala's AQI at 1,244 and Bathinda's at 1,100 to argue that Kejriwal has replicated Delhi's decade-long pollution crisis in Punjab within just five years — and that Punjab's toxic air is now blowing directly into Delhi.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa attacked AAP and Arvind Kejriwal at a press conference on 3 November 2026 over Punjab's worsening air quality.
Sirsa alleged Bathinda's AQI crossed 1,100 and Barnala's AQI reached 1,244 , citing news reports — figures NationPress could not independently verify at publication.
Other Punjab cities cited: Talwandi Sabo (1,036), Malaudh (960), Abohar (885), Jalandhar (690), Ludhiana (560), Gurdaspur (528).
Sirsa also alleged rising drug abuse under AAP 's rule in Punjab — claims not independently corroborated.
Sirsa linked Delhi 's deteriorating winter air quality directly to pollution from Punjab .
Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, launched a sharp attack on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that his party had driven Punjab into a severe air quality crisis within five years — mirroring what Sirsa described as a decade of pollution mismanagement in Delhi.
The Pollution Numbers Sirsa Cited
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Sirsa pointed to Air Quality Index (AQI) figures from multiple Punjab cities to build his case. He claimed Bathinda's AQI had reportedly crossed 1,100, placing it among the most polluted cities in the country. He further cited Barnala at 1,244, Talwandi Sabo at 1,036, Malaudh at 960, Abohar at 885, Ludhiana at 560, Jalandhar at 690, and Gurdaspur at 528.
'Not just Bathinda, Barnala has an AQI of 1,244, Talwandi Sabo 1,036, Malaudh 960, Abohar 885, Gurdaspur 528, Jalandhar 690 and Ludhiana 560,' Sirsa said, attributing the data to news reports from the day.
Sirsa's Charge Against Kejriwal
'Arvind Kejriwal has set a new record in Punjab after Delhi. Just as he left Delhi struggling with pollution for 10 years, he has now created another record in Punjab. Bathinda's AQI has reached 1,100, earning it the distinction of being the most polluted city in India. I am not saying this; today's news reports are reporting it,' Sirsa alleged.
He added sarcastically: 'I congratulate Kejriwal for setting this record.' Sirsa directly linked Delhi's deteriorating air quality to pollution originating in Punjab, citing the role of western disturbances in carrying particulate matter across state lines. 'The poor air quality in the national capital is a result of pollution coming from Punjab,' he claimed.
Drug Abuse Allegations Added to the Attack
Sirsa widened his attack beyond air quality, alleging that drug abuse had also worsened under AAP's watch in Punjab. 'In Delhi, intoxication was available for free, and now the same is happening in Punjab. He has ruined Punjab with drugs and now with air pollution,' he alleged. These remain unverified allegations and have not been corroborated by independent data in this press conference.
Context and What It Means
The broadside comes at a time when North India's annual winter pollution crisis is intensifying, with stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana widely identified by environmental agencies as a significant contributor to the region's seasonal AQI spikes. The AAP government in Punjab has faced criticism from multiple quarters over its handling of farm fires, despite having come to power in 2022 on a promise to curb the practice.
This is not the first time the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has targeted Kejriwal over pollution — similar accusations were levelled repeatedly during AAP's tenure in Delhi. However, AAP has historically counter-argued that stubble burning is a multi-state and multi-agency problem requiring central coordination, not a failure of any single state government. NationPress could not independently verify the AQI figures cited by Sirsa at the time of publication.
With Delhi's air quality also deteriorating as winter sets in, the political blame game over pollution is expected to intensify in the coming weeks.
Point of View
If accurate, are genuinely alarming and deserve scrutiny beyond the partisan framing. The BJP has consistently pinned Delhi's pollution on AAP-governed states, while AAP has deflected by pointing to the Centre's failure to coordinate a regional stubble-burning exit strategy. Both narratives sidestep the structural truth: India still has no credible, enforceable multi-state mechanism to end farm fires before they become a public health emergency. The real story is not who deserves blame, but why, five years into AAP's Punjab tenure and a decade into the national conversation on stubble burning, Barnala can still log an AQI above 1,200.
NationPress
3 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa say about Punjab's pollution?
Sirsa alleged at a press conference on 3 November 2026 that AAP's Arvind Kejriwal had driven Punjab into a record air pollution crisis, citing Bathinda's AQI at 1,100 and Barnala's at 1,244. He drew a direct parallel to what he described as Kejriwal's decade of pollution mismanagement in Delhi.
What AQI levels were reported in Punjab cities according to Sirsa?
Sirsa cited the following figures, attributing them to news reports: Barnala at 1,244, Bathinda at 1,100, Talwandi Sabo at 1,036, Malaudh at 960, Abohar at 885, Jalandhar at 690, Ludhiana at 560, and Gurdaspur at 528. NationPress could not independently verify these figures at the time of publication.
Why is Punjab's air quality relevant to Delhi's pollution?
Sirsa claimed that poor air quality in Delhi is partly caused by pollution originating in Punjab, carried by western disturbances. Environmental agencies have long identified cross-border stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana as a major seasonal contributor to Delhi's winter smog.
What is AAP's position on Punjab's stubble burning problem?
AAP came to power in Punjab in 2022 partly on a pledge to curb stubble burning. The party has historically argued that farm fires are a multi-state issue requiring central government coordination. AAP's Punjab government had not responded to Sirsa's specific allegations at the time of this report.
What other allegations did Sirsa make against AAP in Punjab?
Beyond air pollution, Sirsa alleged that drug abuse had worsened under AAP's watch in Punjab, claiming the party had 'ruined Punjab with drugs.' These allegations were not independently corroborated in the press conference and remain contested.
