Harsimrat Badal writes to agriculture minister to send central team to probe seed scam, send case to CBI

BATHINDA: Bathinda MP and Union food processing industry minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal has written to Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar to send a central team to probe the seed scam in Punjab. She has also urged the minister to forward the case for CBI probe as the matter pertains to deputing the farmers already reeling under precarious economic conditions.

She has pointed out that the paddy seeds of newly developed short duration varieties PR- 128, PR-129 which still are not allowed for private sale but have been sold in large quantities by a firm having its outlet near Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana, which have developed the varieties and sent only 1600 quintal of seeds in 8 kg packing at Rs 70 per kg through Krishi Vigyan Kendra in the month of May.

During initial investigations it has come out that the seeds to Ludhiana firm were sent by another firm of Gurdaspur which is being supported by a minister, Harsimrat Badal has written urging the minister to take it seriously as the state government has not made any headway despite registration of FIR at Ludhiana on May 11 as some high ranking officials and politicians are involved in it. She has said that it is dire need to save farmers from duping and exploitation as the seeds which University provided for Rs 70 per kg has been sold at three times the actual price at Rs 200 per kg.

She has said that the vital evidence which could incriminate the real king pin in this multi crore scam could be wiped out if no action is taken soon.