GUWAHATI: Assam Agriculture Minister Pijush Hazarika has responded to Opposition criticism over his remarks on paddy seed sowing, saying that being born in a village does not necessarily mean a person knows how to sow paddy seeds.
Speaking at a state-level workshop of the Agriculture Department, Hazarika said he would continue his work despite criticism and would not be deterred by attempts to ridicule him.
While advocating palm oil cultivation, the minister said, “Two types of oil are sinking the country — one is edible oil and the other is petrol.”
Hazarika also spoke about efforts to reduce personal expenses, saying he uses an electric vehicle to save money despite perceptions that ministers have easy access to funds.
He further said solar panels installed at a shop owned by his wife had helped save around Rs 1.10 lakh in electricity costs, highlighting the potential of renewable energy to reduce expenses.
The minister maintained that criticism would not stop him from pursuing his initiatives in the agriculture and development sectors.
