Jalandhar: BJP leaders in Punjab attacked the AAP govt and CM Bhagwant Mann over slow lifting and procurement of paddy in the state’s grain markets, saying that it allowed sale of hybrid variety paddy seeds in the name of PR-126 and that CM Mann must resign.
BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh slammed the AAP for protesting outside the Punjab BJP’s office in Chandigarh, saying that it was “politicising” the issue. On the other hand, former minister and party leader Manoranjan Kalia demanded the resignation of CM Bhagwant Mann, saying that there had been adulteration of hybrid seeds in PR-126 variety of paddy. Chug said shifting the blame on central govt was yet “another tactic” of the AAP govt to mislead the people of Punjab.
Kalia, addressing a press conference in Jalandhar, said the CM gave a call to the farmers of Punjab to grow the PR-126 variety without taking into consideration whether Punjab had sufficient stock and without ensuring farmers must transplant this variety after June 25, as per expert recommendations. “There was shortage of PR-126 seed and the gap of shortage was filled with other hybrid varieties in the name of PR-126 by private agencies. The AAP govt has failed to check the adulteration of the hybrid varieties with PR-126. It also miserably failed to ensure uninterrupted supply of the paddy seed PR 126 to match the demand,” said Kalia.TNN