Karnal, May 26 -- Even after protests by farmer unions and opposition parties against the new rules introduced during the recently concluded wheat procurement, Haryana agriculture and farmers welfare minister Shyam Singh Rana on Monday said that the change in issuing of gate passes and other rules will continue during the upcoming paddy purchase. The minister was in Karnal to chair the meeting of the District Public Relations and Grievance Redressal Committee, where he heard nine complaints. Rana, while speaking to the media, defended the mandi rules and said that the biometric system started this season ensured transparency in issuing gate passes of farmers only bringing crops to the purchase centre. "The opposition protested against the rules. We brought stricter rules during the wheat season this time to catch those misusing the system. Now, these rules will also be implemented during the paddy season," he added. htc...