Basmati GI tagging: Shivraj Chouhan slams Punjab CM Amarinder Singh over letter to PM Modi

Mhya Presh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday criticised his Punjab counterpart Amarinder Singh over his letter urging Centre t to allow GI tagging of basmati rice to MP. Taking to Twitter, Chouhan alleged that Punjab CM's letter was "politically motivated".

Amarinder Singh has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him t to allow geographical indication (GI) tagging of basmati to Mhya Presh in larger interest of Punjab and or states that alrey have GI tag for basmati.

In his tweet in Hindi, Chouhan said, "I strongly condemn letter written by Punjab Chief Minister to @PMOIndia regarding allotment of GI tagging. It is politically motivated." "This is t an issue of Punjab or Mhya Presh, it's a subject pertaining to whole country's farmers and ir livelihoods," he said.

Apart from Punjab, or states that alrey have GI tagging for basmati are Haryana, Himachal Presh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, western UP, and select districts of Jammu and Kashmir. Mhya Presh has sought inclusion of its 13 districts for GI tagging for basmati.

However, Punjab CM has urged PM to direct concerned authorities t to disturb status quo in this matter, saying that is was essential for safeguarding interests of farmers and basmati exporters of India.

He also contended that any dilution of registration might help Pakistan, which also produces basmati as per GI tagging in international market.

Countering his argument, Chouhan said, " case of APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) with Pakistan has relationship with Mhya Presh's claim as it is under GI Act of India. It is t connected to inter-country claims of basmati rice." He asserted that GI tagging was a matter of pride for farmers and recognition of ir years of toils.

" matter should t be turned into a Punjab vs Mhya Presh tussle. GI tagging will provide stability to basmati prices in international markets and bolster our exports," MP CM said.

Punjab chief minister has alleged that MP's move infringes GI tagging procedure and laws.

However, Chouhan said, "Mhya Presh has a written recorded history since 1908 of basmati production in 13 districts. Records of supplying seeds to farmers in MP in year 1944 was recorded in records of Scindia State." He said that Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderab, h recorded production of basmati rice in ir Production Oriented Survey Report for last 25 years.

"Basmati exporters of Punjab and Haryana are procuring basmati rice from MP. This is also supported by Government of India data of export from Mandideep (industrial area), Mhya Presh," he ded.

In June, Mhya Presh Agriculture Minister Kamal Patel h said that state government would move apex court to challenge a Mras High Court's ruling in matter of t providing tag to MP's basmati-growing regions.

MP government and a basmati growers' association h lost two separate cases in court filed in 2016 to challenge exclusion of districts from a map submitted by APEDA for tags.

Patel said y condemn Punjab CM's move. MP Home Minister Narottam Mishra said Congress is anti-farmer and that is why Punjab was opposing Mhya Presh's claim.

(Photo Credit: PTI)