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MPs petition PM on Paroda's removal

Our Bureau

NEW DELHI, Dec. 8

AFTER representations from crop scientists and academics, it is now the turn of 101 members of Parliament to petition the Prime Minister, urging "immediate withdrawal" of the decision to remove Dr R.S. Paroda from his dual positions of Director-General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education.

"It is glaring that Dr Paroda has been sidelined without assigning any reason or proper enquiry being conducted, which is the standard practice in any Government Department,'' says a written representation signed by 101 MPs, including Mr Madhavrao Scindi a, Mr P.A. Sangma, Mr Buta Singh and Mr Sahib Singh Verma.

The MPs have criticised the Agriculture Minister, Mr Nitish Kumar, for stating that Dr Paroda had not been parting with certain important files and creating hurdles over an inquiry constituted by the Minister relating to the purchase of computers under t he World Bank-funded National Agricultural Technology Project.

According to the representation, holding Dr Paroda responsible for any irregularities in purchases is not "tenable" and only "further establishes the exterior motives to remove him".

The MPs added that "without proper care of scientists, who have served this nation in achieving the Green, White and Blue Revolutions", it would be difficult for the country to "face the onslaught of globalisation and move towards an Evergreen Revolution ".