Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has refused to meet Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal over discussion on the city's deteriorating air quality.
"I fail to understand why the Delhi chief minister is trying to force his hand, knowing well that any such discussion would be meaningless and futile," he said.
As Delhi battles dense smog and pollution aggravated by stubble-burning in neighbouring agrarian states, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has been fixing up meetings with his Haryana and Punjab counterparts on Twitter.
After scheduling a Wednesday meeting with Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar in Chandigarh, on Tuesday morning Kejriwal tweet-invited Punjab chief minister Capt Amrinder Singh to consider his request in "collective interest". "Sir, I am coming to Chandigarh on Wed to meet Haryana CM. Would be grateful if u cud spare sometime to meet me. It is in collective interest (sic)," tweeted Kejriwal.
On Monday, a very crucial meeting between Kejriwal and Khattar remained in limbo even after "I'm ready" response from both the parties.
"Khattar ji called. He is in Del till tomo. Says he is v busy n can't meet me in Del. He has asked me to come to Chandigarh on Wed. I look forward to meeting him in Chandigarh on Wed (sic)," Kejriwal had tweeted on Monday night.
Kejriwal last week had sought a meeting with counterparts from Haryana and Punjab to discuss ways to manage the worsening air pollution in Delhi and the neighbouring states.
The practice of burning of crop residue by farmers of the two states have been blamed for the toxic smog enveloping the region during the winter season every year.
(Inputs from agencies)
