by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
Chandigarh : Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Monday demanded that action be taken against the Gandhis, alleging that the family extended political patronage to the perpetrators of the 1984 Sikh massacres.
Harsimrat Badal told mediapersons here that, as enumerated by the Delhi High Court while convicting Gandhi family loyalist Sajjan Kumar in a case of mass murder, Congress president Rahul Gandhi should tell why he lied that the Congress was not involved in the genocide.
Addressing the media along with senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders Bikram Singh Majithia and Daljit Singh Cheema following the Delhi High Court judgement against Sajjan Kumar, the Union Minister said it was made possible due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to reopen old cases which had been closed by the Congress and the constitution of a SIT (special investigation team) to investigate them afresh.
Stating that not only Sajjan Kumar, but the entire Congress party had been placed in the dock due to the verdict, Harsimrat Badal said, “Now the courts have also made it clear that justice was denied to the 1984 victims due to political patronage. Action should now be taken against UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi who should be questioned about her role as accomplice of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in the 1984 massacres.”
“Similarly, Rahul Gandhi should also tell the people why he lied some months ago that the Congress party did not have any role in the 1984 genocide,” she added.
Asserting that Monday’s verdict against Sajjan Kumar has given hope to the victims, Harsimrat Badal said, “I am hopeful that Jagdish Tytler and Kamal Nath will also meet the same fate soon.”
She condemned the Congress for continuing to patronise Kamal Nath by making him the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. She also thanked the Delhi High Court for the “historic verdict” saying people’s faith in the judicial process had been further strengthened.
“The SAD raised this issue with PM Narendra Modi in 2014 and formed the SIT which reopened old cases leading to the conviction of two accused, Naresh Yadav and Yashpal, in one of the 1984 cases,” she pointed out.
Asserting that she had seen the 1984 tragedy up close and was lucky to survive unscathed, Harsimrat Badal said she could understand the grief of the widows who were waiting for justice, 34 years after the tragedy.
“I have worked in the refugee camps as a young girl trying to reunite families torn apart by the tragedy. I even chose to speak on this issue during my maiden speech in Parliament,” she said.
Majithia said it was unfortunate that Sajjan Kumar was defended in court by Amit Sibal, the son of senior Congressman Kapil Sibal.
“This apparently can happen only due to personal intervention of the Gandhi family, Majithia, who is the younger brother of Harsimrat Badal, said.
Akali Dal leader Cheema said that since the court had made an observation that the Congress party is patronising the accused, the Election Commission should de-recognize the party immediately.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Business, Business Summit, Commodity Market, Corporate, Corporate Governance, Events, Investing, Large Enterprise, News, Politics
Harsimrat Kaur Badal
New Delhi : The World Food India event beginning this week is expected to fetch foreign investment of $10 billion and would help in the government’s mission of doubling farmers’ incomes by 2022, Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal said here on Wednesday.
“We are looking at the world collaborating with us. After the event, we expect investment of $10 billion. It will create over 10 lakh jobs. I say use foreign money for benefit of our country,” Badal said while briefing media about the November 3-5 global event.
“The government has taken several measures for welfare of farmers. However, in order to make the efforts to double farmers’ income, we need foreign investment.”
Citing the rise in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Badal said it was the right time for the food processing sector to get benefitted.
The global event that is happening for the first time in the country is expected to see delegates from over 60 countries.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) CEO Pawan Agarwal said the authority was going to launch a ‘Food Regulatory Portal’ on Thursday, which would be a game changer for effective and transparent implementation of the food safety laws in the country.
Around 50 global CEOs are expected to attend the World Food India 2017 meet here from November 3-5.
The conference, being hosted by the Ministry of Food Processing in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), will also see the participation of over 200 international companies.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Business, Business Summit, Commodity Market, Events, Investing, Large Enterprise, News, Politics
Union Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal
New Delhi : India is expected to attract investment of $10 billion in the food processing sector at the World Food India 2017 event next month, Union Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said on Monday.
“With World Food India, the country is poised to touch an investment target of roughly $10 billion in the food processing sector, which will generate one million jobs in three years,” she was quoted as saying at a curtain-raiser session here.
“I am certain that the World Food India platform will reinvigorate the country’s position as a ‘Global Food Factory’ and a ‘Global Sourcing Hub’,” she said.
Over 200 companies from 30 countries, 18 ministerial and business delegations, and 50 global Chief Executive Officers, along with CEOs of all leading domestic food processing companies, are expected to attend the November 3-5 event, where Germany, Japan, and Denmark are ‘partner countries’ whereas Italy and Netherlands are ‘focus countries’.
Badal said the retail sector in India offered a large demand-driven market and the government was creating the right infrastructure, an enabling environment, and an innovation culture to foster strategic partnerships.
“India is the second largest producer of food, leader in milk, fruits and vegetables, cereals and marine products. It has a huge potential with 127 agro climatic zones, and proximity to food importing nations… the World Food India 2017 provides that platform for partnerships,” she said.
“With World Food India, we are inviting the world to come and refresh their experiences of Indian food, spices, ingredients, and cuisines. The food street at the event will, I hope, be a memorable experience.”
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Business, Large Enterprise
New Delhi, (IANS) Appropriate rules and guidelines are being framed by the government to encourage investment through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) route in the retail market for the food processing industry.
“The Ministry of Commerce is framing the guidelines,” Union Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said at a press conference here.
“My ministry believes entry of multinational companies will play a catalytic role in transforming rural and farm economy if they enter the retail market. A suggestion was put forward by our ministry and the cabinet has approved the suggestion. This was reflected in the budget,” said Badal, who has been pushing for allowing 100 percent FDI in multi-brand retail for the food processing sector.
She, however, sought to clarify that foreign players looking to invest in the food processing sector in India will have to mandatorily divert about 15 per cent of funds in building infrastructure at the “farm gate level for the benefit of farmers”.
“We do not want a situation where MNCs open retail outlets but procure things from the regular mandis. This will hurt farmers only. Hence my ministry has proposed for 15 percent funds to be invested for infrastructure developments,” Badal said listing out various achievements of her ministry during last two years.
The government had agreed in principle for allowing 100 percent FDI in marketing and processing of food products and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had made the announcement in the budget 2016-17 also.
But once the guidelines and related rules are framed by the Commerce Ministry, it would formally go before the Cabinet for necessary approval.
“The cabinet will collectively take a decision in due time,” Badal said.
Briefing media in presence of her colleague, Minister of State for Food Processing Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti and senior officials, Badal said sustained efforts and crucial policy decisions have helped government bring down wastage of agricultural produce by about 10 percent from a whopping loss of Rs.92,000 crore.
“Various studies earlier revealed that there was loss of about RS 92,000 crore due to wastage of food and horticulture produce from harvest to market levels. Setting up of six new mega food parks across the country has helped bring down the wastage by 10 percent,” she said.
From 2008 to 2014, the UPA government had set up only two mega food parks, she said adding the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government has raised it to eight by setting up new parks.
“There is already a net saving of Rs 3,000 crore and there is potential of saving Rs 9,000 crore once all these parks are operational,” she said.
Badal said by 2019, her ministry will create 42 mega food parks across the country.
The minister also launched a new online portal for bringing more transparency in developing and maintenance of food parks.
The new portal will allow online filing of claims for release of grant for the projects.
“The new initiatives will bring in transparency in disbursal of funds. And it will go a long way to ensure corruption-free governance in the country,” Badal said.
