Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh, October 26-
The AAP Punjab attacked BJP leader and MoS Ravneet Bittu for lying outrightly. AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang said that there is no issue with the seeds. If there were a problem with the seeds, how could the central government have issued a CCL for purchasing paddy? If there were a seed issue, the central government wouldn't release funds. He is just saying so to spread confusion and misleading the people.
Kang stated that the PR-126 seed was developed by PAU with consensus from all relevant institutions, including rice millers, and it was approved by the central government. Whenever PAU prepares a new seed, it does so with collective agreement. This seed has been sown in Punjab for seven years without any issues. Now, when the central government has failed to lift the crops, they talk about having the seeds tested by IIT Kanpur.
Kang also refuted Bittu's claims about fake and expensive seeds, stating that no expensive seeds have been sold. The approved seed stores have been selling seeds at the fixed price of ₹56 per kilo. If Bittu heard of seeds being sold for 3500, why didn't he raise this issue in June or July?