Punjab CM requests PM Modi not to allow GI tagging of MP Basmati, worries advantage to Pak

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his personal intervention to t allow Geographical Indication (GI) tagging of Basmati to Mhya Presh, in interest of Punjab and or states which are alrey Basmati GI tagged.

Apart from Punjab, or states which alrey have GI tagging for Basmati are Haryana, Himachal Presh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Western UP, and select districts of Jammu and Kashmir. Last month, Mhya Presh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan h met Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar in Delhi and urged him for GI tag for Basmati rice produced in his state.

GI tag is an indication that is used on products that have a particular geographical origin and have qualities or a reputation that are due to origin.

According to a press release from CMO, Singh in his letter has ted that India exported Basmati to tune of Rs. 33,000 crore every year, but any dilution in registration of Indian Basmati may give vant to Pakistan (which also produces Basmati as per GI tagging) in international market in terms of Basmati characteristics, quality parameters.

CM has PM Modi's attention to ecomically and socially important issue of Geographical Tagging, saying GI tagging of MP Basmati would negatively impact state’s agriculture and also India’s Basmati exports. Mhya Presh has sought inclusion of its 13 districts for GI tagging for Basmati.

Essential for safeguarding farmers' interest

Urging PM to direct concerned authorities t to disturb status quo in this matter, Amarinder Singh said this was essential for safeguarding interests of farmers and Basmati exporters of India.

As per geographical indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act 1999 a "geographical indication tag can be issued for agricultural goods that are originating in territory of a country, or a region or locality in that territory, where a given quality, reputation or or characteristics of such goods is essentially attributable to its geographical origin. GI tag for Basmati has been given on basis of tritionally grown areas of Basmati due to special aroma, quality and taste of grain, which is indigeus to region below foothills of Himalayas in Indo-Gangetic Plains and Basmati of this area has distinct recognition across world,” Chief Minister has pointed out.

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CM lists out reasons to dump MP claim

Mhya Presh, said Captain Amarinder, "does t fall under specialised zone for Basmati cultivation". It was for this reason that MP was t included in indigeus area of Basmati cultivation in history of India, he said, ding that MP's move to get its area included for Basmati tagging is a direct violation of GI tagging procedure and laws, and any attempt to breach GI tagging areas will t only hit status of aromatic Basmati cultivation in India’s specialised area in but will also negate purpose of GI tagging regulation in Indian context.

Chief Minister furr pointed out that MP h earlier attempted to get GI tag for Basmati cultivation in 2017-18. However, Registrar of Geographical Indications (RGI), constituted under geographical indications of goods (Registrations and Protection) Act 1999, rejected demand of MP after investigating matter. Intellectual Property Appellate Board h also discarded claim of MP in this regard. Later, MP challenged se decisions in Mras High Court, but did t get any relief.

Furr, to look into claim of MP to get GI tag for its Basmati, Centre h also constituted a committee of eminent agricultural scientists, which after thorough deliberations, h also rejected state’s claim, Captain Amarinder pointed out.

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