The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Wednesday termed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener and Delhi Chief Minister  Arvind Kejriwal’s visit to Chandigarh to meet Haryana CM on the issue of stubble burning as “a sinister media stunt” aimed at befooling the people of Delhi, Punjab as well as the country.

Addressing a Press conference, former finance minister and SAD leader Parminder Singh Dhindsa said Kejriwal was in the habit of inventing a make belief solution to the problems being faced by the people of Delhi.

“Last year he came up with the odd-even scheme and spent crores of rupees on a media blitz to take political mileage of the same. This year he has come up with the idea of meeting the chief ministers of Haryana and Punjab with the sole purpose of flogging these meetings as an achievement,” Dhindsa said

The Akali leader said the result of the meeting with Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar was there for all to see. “All Kejriwal could say after the meeting with his Haryana counterpart was that concern had been expressed about health issues due to stubble burning.

Arvind Kejriwal could have expressed this sentiment on the phone but chose to indulge in cheap publicity on this sensitive issue even though he knew that the talks with his Haryana counterpart would not have any outcome,” he said.

Dhindsa said it was a fact that stubble burning alone was not responsible for the smog in Delhi.

“If that was so Chandigarh would have been the worst sufferer. The truth is that Kejriwal has failed to check vehicular pollution and is now trying to blame the farmers of Punjab and Haryana for his own failures. If he is really serious about this issue he should provide financial assistance to Punjab and Haryana to tackle stubble burning. Agriculture equipment and even establishment of bio mass plants can provide a lasting solution to utilize paddy straw”, he added.

Asking Kejriwal to desist from deceit, Dhindsa said the Delhi CM should first tell the people what he had done to reduce the effect of smog in Delhi.

“While you (Arvind Kejriwal) are holding the Haryana and Punjab governments responsible for the smog in Delhi by accusing them of failing to check stubble burning, your Punjab legislature party leader is encouraging the same. Please clarify your stand on this issue immediately”, the Akali leader added.