M A I N   N E W S

Basmati issue rocks Houses
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 21
The government today agreed to make a statement in Parliament tomorrow on the reported patent of three strains of basmati rice by an American firm.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Pramod Mahajan said he would request the Commerce Minister to make a statement on the issue during zero hour tomorrow.

Even as the government today sought to allay fears of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha on the issue of India losing the basmati patent in the USA, Samajwadi Party (SP) members forced an adjournment in the Lok Sabha alleging that the ruling coalition’s policies were anti-farmers.

The SP members stalled the proceedings in the Lok Sabha over the government’s inability to resist the losing of the basmati patent to Texas-based RiceTec company. Members led by Akhilesh Kumar Singh trooped into the well of the House and raised slogans against the “anti-farmers policies” of the government forcing Speaker G.M.C. Balayogi to adjourn the House till 2 pm.

In the Rajya Sabha, the issue was raised by member of the ruling party Balbir Punj and S.P. member Janeshwar Mishra. However, Congress members seized the opportunity and pressed for a statement from the government explaining the implications of the case.

The Chair agreed to their suggestion and directed Minister of State for Commerce Digvijay Singh to clarify the government’s stand in the form of a proper statement.

Repatriation of 21 Pakistanis stalled
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 21
The repatriation of 21 Pakistani nationals scheduled for today had to be cancelled at the eleventh hour as the Government of Pakistan said it could not accept them.

The authorities, which had completed all formalities for repatriation of nationals languishing in the local camp jail, received a letter from the Additional Director-General (Intelligence) in which the High Commission of Pakistan was quoted saying that the same be postponed as the Pakistan Government had not completed verification of the antecedents of the nationals.

However, Mohammad Ilias, a resident of Baler, Kasur, was repatriated to Pakistan through Samjhauta Express yesterday.

Mr Hardip Singh Chabba, Deputy Jail Superintendent, Central Jail said in all 35 Pakistanis and more than 80 Bangladeshis were in the jail.