The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday slammed the central government for rejecting Punjab’s demand of Rs 1,200 crore to prevent stubble burning and accused it of discrimination against the state.

Senior AAP spokesperson Malwinder Singh Kang said the Modi government has consistently discriminated against Punjab. It had already withheld several funds such as Rural Development Fund, Mandi Development Fund and National Health Mission Fund worth nearly Rs 10,000 crore. Problems were deliberately created in raising paddy. “Now they are also refusing to provide the necessary incentives to prevent stubble burning. This is highly condemnable,” he said.

He added that the BJP claimed to be with the farmers of Punjab but when it came to helping them, the party shirked its responsibility.