Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday accused the Punjab government of failing to provide incentives to farmers to check stubble burning in the state.

Badal sought to know from Chief Minister Amarinder Singh "why his government failed to incentivise a single farmer to prevent stubble burning".  He also asked the chief minister why he was "indulging in politics of lies and deceit by photo ops with the prime minister to befool the farmers of the state."

The SAD chief said the chief minister should first give a report card of the utilisation of Rs 385 crore received from the Centre to manage paddy straw. A "huge scam" was in the making and would be uncovered by the SAD in the coming days, Badal said, raising doubts over the utilisation of the Rs 385 crore.

"Isn't it strange that Capt Amarinder is asking the centre for more money to compensate farmers before telling why the state has been unable to disburse a single paisa to the anndaata (farmer) for this purpose," he asked.

He said the Punjab government should immediately release Rs 3,000 per acre to all paddy growers to cover the cost of managing paddy straw.

"Once you do this we will ourselves accompany you and ask the Centre to give more funds for a lot of farmers. However, if you do not do this, you will have to answer why you misused central funds and did not give any direct benefit to farmers of Punjab," Badal said.

The former deputy chief minister said the SAD would stand with farmers and would not allow the state government to "prosecute them in any manner".