Chhole in a Can, CM in Paris: Mann Launches Chitte Chhole, Rajmah After the Clearance Fight
Bhagwant Mann in Paris: Days after the High Court set aside the MEA’s refusal, the Chief Minister inaugurated MARKFED’s stall at the India Pavilion and unveiled two canned SOHNA products, Chickpeas in Brine and Red Kidney Beans in Brine.
By North Desk Bureau
Punjab’s chitte chhole and rajmah have now come out of the dhaba and into a can on a Paris shelf. And the man who put them there got to Paris after all.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, who was in the High Court a couple of days ago over whether he could make this trip, inaugurated the MARKFED stall at the India Pavilion at SIAL Paris 2026 on Sunday and launched two new products under the cooperative’s SOHNA brand: Chickpeas in Brine (chitte chhole) and Red Kidney Beans in Brine (rajmah), according to a Punjab government release datelined Paris.
“People sitting all over the world will now be able to enjoy the taste of Punjab’s canned chitte chhole and rajmah,” Mann said in a post on X, adding that the aim is to take Punjab’s pure, high-quality products to international markets so farmers’ incomes rise. He signed off with “Inquilab Zindabad.”
Bhagwant Mann in Paris: HOW HE GOT THERE
Bhagwant Mann in Paris: The trip was in doubt until the last minute. Punjab applied for political clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs on September 9. The portal status was marked declined on October 12, with a one-line remark that clearance from “political angle” was declined. The State went to the Punjab and Haryana High Court. On October 15, the Centre asked for time to file an affidavit. On October 16, Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya set aside the refusal and directed the respondents to approve the visit urgently, facilitate the delegation’s departure and extend due protocols.
The Centre’s affidavit had said, among other things, that the Chief Minister faces serious security threats, that there was no proper bilateral invitation and that he had no functional role at the event. The court recorded that these reasons were not in the refusal itself and that the SIAL organisers had written to the French Embassy about his visit.
Punjab’s case was that the refusal had no reasons at all. The court did not decide Punjab’s other pleaded arguments on federalism and the source of the clearance power. The Centre had also told the court that Mann has been cleared for foreign visits several times before, including Finland, the Netherlands and Japan.
THE LAUNCH
Bhagwant Mann in Paris: According to the release, the two new products extend MARKFED’s canned and ready-to-use range, which it says includes Sarson Ka Saag, Dal Makhani, Rajmah, Kari Pakora and Amritsari Chana. The portfolio also includes SOHNA Kachi Ghani Mustard Oil, pickles, murabbas, amla and aloe vera juices and honey. MARKFED says its ready-to-eat items are preservative-free and meant to be heated and eaten.
The Punjab Mart: MARKFED’s products are being shown together with those of Milkfed, which sells under the Verka brand, and Punjab Agro, bringing two apex cooperative federations and one State government undertaking onto a single international platform.
The pitch: Punjab has always been India’s food basket, Mann said, and the aim is for it to be a globally recognised hub for value-added food. He pointed to value addition, modern processing, quality packaging and branding as the way to create more opportunity for farmers, cooperatives and exporters.
MARKFED BY THE NUMBERS
- Turnover: more than Rs 21,248 crore, about USD 2.26 billion.
- Reach: it says it directly serves around 2 million farmers in Punjab.
- Exports: to more than 20 countries, including in the Middle East, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
- Capacity: 2,700 metric tonnes a year for canned Sarson Ka Saag and other ready-to-eat products, and 3,000 metric tonnes for honey.
- Private label: MARKFED says it plans to use surplus capacity for contract manufacturing and private-label production for overseas buyers.
THE BUSINESS SIDE
Bhagwant Mann in Paris: The release says the delegation held business interactions with French and international food and beverage companies, facilitated in coordination with the Embassy of India in France. It lists the topics as new markets, international sourcing requirements, buyer-supplier networks, long-term trade partnerships, food processing technology, cold-chain infrastructure, packaging, logistics and distribution. It names no companies and gives no deal values. The petition had said the Indian Mission in France had been consulted on arrangements.
WHAT EXACTLY SIAL IS
Bhagwant Mann in Paris: SIAL is a food industry trade show held once every two years, at Paris Nord Villepinte from October 17 to 21. According to the High Court order, around 130 countries are expected to exhibit. MARKFED’s stall was allotted by APEDA, a statutory body under the Union Commerce Ministry, under the APEDA India Pavilion. The tentative itinerary filed in court had the delegation visiting the show on October 18, with the Indian ambassador and prospective importers on October 20.
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