Summary:
Verbal spate between ruling BJP in Madhya Pradesh and opposition Congress party continues on the matter of GI certification of Basmati rice in favour of Madhya Pradesh. The BJP has attacked Congress party after the party-ruled Punjab Government objected to allocation of GI tag to MP by authorities. However, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amrinder Singh took objection to this process shooting a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for halting this process immediately. He urged GoI to ensure that MP’s Basmati rice gets GI tag and farmers get their due. Claiming that GI tagging will bolster export of state Basmati rice to foreign countries, Chief Minister added that 13 districts in Madhya Pradesh have been producing Basmati since 1908..