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Half the story

The Reel says

Punjab farmers burn stubble deliberately to profit and choke citizens?

checkthis · automated fact-check · How we check · Reel by @vajra.exe

The post correctly notes that Indian crop exports face rejections abroad due to illegal chemical residues. However, its depiction of stubble burning is misleading. Farmers burn stubble primarily due to the short time window between harvesting paddy and sowing wheat, as well as the low cost for small-scale farmers, rather than out of malice.

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The Reel we checked

@vajra.exe

Happy Breathing everyone . . . . #pollution #delhi #punjab

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What's concerning

Lapse

Reports note that the Punjab government faced challenges in protecting biogas plants from local opposition, leading to delays and caution among investors.

“As the Punjab government failed to protect the CBG plants from irrational opposition, we have adopted a wait-and-watch policy.” Hindustan Times, 2024-09-10

The trick: Picks only some facts

It shows the facts that fit and leaves out those that don't (known as cherry-picking).

“अगले दो महीने हमारे innocent farmers specially पंजाब के farmers हमारी सांसें रोकने वाले हैं और हम कुछ भी नहीं कर सकते because हमारी generation ने बहुत पहले ही इनको victim मान लिया था। but इनसे बड़ा शैतान शायद ही कोई हो।”

The Reel presents the farmers' actions as purely malicious, ignoring the economic constraints of the short harvesting window and the specific health and environmental concerns driving the biogas protests.

How this trick works and how to answer it →

What we checked

It implies: Punjab and Haryana farmers deliberately reject profitable commercial alternatives to stubble burning.The Tribune
It implies: Biogas plant closures in Punjab were caused by deliberate sabotage and protests by local farmers.The Tribune
Indian crops contain so many illegal toxic chemicals that foreign countries regularly reject them.“India continues to use agricultural chemicals banned in Europe, raising public health and export risks. Experts urge regulatory overhaul as cancer rates and export rejections grow.”Economic Times + 1 more
Out of 38 biogas plants built in Punjab, only four remain operational.No reliable source found for this yet.
Only 4 percent of India's farmers live in Punjab and Haryana, but these two states receive 60 percent of total MSP benefits.No reliable source found for this yet.
If all paddy straw burned annually in India were converted to bioethanol, it would meet half of the country's E20 fuel requirement.No reliable source found for this yet.
Companies pay 2,000 to 8,000 rupees per ton for stubble.No reliable source found for this yet.

What the Reel doesn't tell you

What each side says

Punjab and Haryana farm unions and rich farmersProtesters opposed biogas plants out of fear that the chemicals produced would be carcinogenic and contaminate the food chain. The Tribune
Punjab and Haryana farm unions and rich farmersFarm union representatives stated that a legal guarantee on MSP is required to prevent crops from being sold below the minimum support price. The Tribune

How it plays you

It wants you to think: “Punjab and Haryana farmers are malicious villains deliberately causing pollution to harm others for profit.”

Economic constraints, tight crop cycles, and a lack of proper disposal options or technical awareness drive stubble burning.

Short version

🧩 HALF THE STORY 👉 The post correctly notes that Indian crop exports face rejections abroad due to illegal chemical residues. 👉 However, its depiction of stubble burning is misleading. 🧩 Left out: Local protests against biogas plants are driven by fears of carcinogenic chemicals entering the food chain and foul smells. 🎭 Trick: Picks only some facts 📰 Source: NIH 🔎 Full check: send this Reel to @checkthis.chat

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