Patna: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday dismissed any possibility of shifting the Regional Maize Research and Seed Production Centre from Begusarai to Shivamogga, Karnataka. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Chouhan assured that the centre would remain in Begusarai, and if required, a separate facility could be established in Karnataka, reported The Times of India.
Chouhan’s statement came in response to RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav’s claim in the Bihar Assembly on Monday that the Begusarai centre was being relocated. The minister accused the opposition of spreading false rumours, asserting the government’s focus on expansion rather than relocation.
“Yeh Modi sarkar hai; Modi hai to mumkin hai. Hum chhinte nahin hain, naya kholne ka kaam karte hain (This is the Modi government… where Modi is, anything is possible. We don’t take away, we create new ones),” Chouhan said. His remarks were met with applause from Begusarai MP and Union Minister Giriraj Singh, along with other ruling party MPs.
Earlier, Giriraj Singh had denied Tejashwi Yadav’s claim, stating that he had a telephonic conversation with Chouhan on January 17 regarding the issue.
“The minister assured me that the centre would not be moved, considering the interests of farmers in the eastern and northeastern regions of the country,” Singh had stated.
The clarification from both leaders confirms that the Begusarai maize research centre will continue its operations, playing a crucial role in seed production and agricultural development in the region.
