After meeting Amit Shah, CM Mann raises strong objection on Seed Act, FCI appointment and border farmers’ issues
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, January 17, 2026: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and raised several key issues concerning the state, strongly opposing certain decisions of the Central Government.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, CM Mann said he firmly placed Punjab’s stand on matters linked to agriculture, federal rights and farmers’ welfare.
The Chief Minister said he clearly registered Punjab’s opposition to the proposed Seed Act, questioning how foreign seeds could be allowed into the state without its consent. He warned that the Act could harm farmers’ interests and asserted that it should not be passed in Parliament without taking Punjab’s opinion.
CM Mann also strongly objected to the appointment of a General Manager from outside the state in the Chandigarh-based Food Corporation of India.
He demanded that the FCI head for Punjab should be from the Punjab cadre so that local agricultural practices, language and ground realities are properly understood.
He further stressed that the Centre should refrain from interfering in states’ rights and must mandatorily consult Punjab on agriculture-related decisions.
On the water issue, the Chief Minister reiterated that Punjab has no surplus water to share. He said the matter must be resolved once and for all through dialogue or any appropriate mechanism, adding that Punjab’s position is absolutely clear.
The Chief Minister also demanded the release of around ₹8,500 crore of Punjab’s pending Rural Development Fund, stating that the amount is crucial for building roads in mandis.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured him that a meeting with concerned officials would be held soon and the release of the first installment would be considered.
CM Mann again pressed for maintaining the 60:40 ratio of officers from Punjab and Haryana in the Chandigarh Administration and reiterated his demand that the FCI General Manager in Chandigarh should be from the Punjab cadre for better administrative coordination.
Raising the issue of grain storage and movement, CM Mann sought special trains to clear rice stocks lying in Punjab’s godowns to create space for wheat procurement starting in April. He said Punjab is ready to contribute 125 lakh metric tonnes of wheat to the national food pool.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the long-pending problem of farmers’ land lying beyond the barbed wire along the international border. He said thousands of acres fall outside the fencing, creating serious difficulties for farmers. CM Mann suggested shifting the fencing closer to the zero line so that farmers can cultivate their land without fear or obstruction, to which the Home Minister responded positively.
Additionally, CM Mann raised the issue of commissions and other pending demands of arhtiyas, urging the Centre to hold talks with their association to resolve the matter at the earliest.