Badal pans PAU for poor paddy variety

When asked what the state government was doing to compensate the farmers who had grown PR 201 variety of paddy as this variety was not finding many takers due to its bad quality,the CM put the whole onus on the PAU saying that the farmers of the state had sown this variety of paddy on the recommendations of the PAU,which was the highest authority on agriculture in the state. He admitted that due to its bad quality,PR 201 was finding very few buyers. He said that due to its bad quality,this variety had become unfit for human consumption.

The CM said that the state government was highly concerned about the situation and would do every thing to compensate the farmers,who had grown this variety,to their satisfaction.

In reply to another question,Badal rubbished the media reports that he was going abroad for his medical treatment after giving the state’s charge to his son and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal. The CM said that he was fully fit and thus the question of going abroad after handing over the charge to Sukhbir did not arise at all.

While denying the allegations made by his predecessor,Capt Amarinder Singh regarding the controversy about the Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences,Jalandhar,Badal said that Capt had a habit of beating about the bush.

Badal visited Mahesh Inder Singh,former minister and general secretary of the SAD,who had surgery of Divirtyculitis at Apollo Hospital,Delhi,one month ago,at his residence here and enquired about his health.

Among others who were present on this occasion were Gurinder Singh Grewal,Jagdish Singh Garcha,former minister and Jathedar Amarjit Singh Bhatia,vice-president,SAD.