Thaindian News

Chandigarh, Jan 29 (IANS) Activists of NGO Swadeshi Jagran Manch Friday raised slogans against the clearance given to Bt Brinjal, saying it was like “serving poison on a platter”.
“Our country is already reeling under disaster caused by Bt Cotton and induction of yet another genetically engineered crop would wreak havoc on us,” said Subhash Sharma, the NGO’s state coordinator at an open house on Bt Brinjal here.

“Multi national companies dealing with genetically engineered crops are now trying to venture into food market with Bt Brinjal. Having earned millions out of Bt Cotton, they are now trying to serve us poison on platter,” he alleged.

Union Environment and Morests Jairam Ramesh Friday held an open interaction here in this union territory to gather opinion from the public on Bt Brinjal.

During the open house, he interacted with farmers, scientists, doctors, environmentalists, representatives of various NGOs and other sections of the society.

“Before taking a final decision on bringing the Bt Brinjal, we have planned to arrive at a common consensus on the basis of public consultations across the country. Such consultations are being conducted at seven locations in the country and this was the fifth one,” Ramesh told reporters, here.

“This will help us to implement the decision in a transparent and democratic way, in which all aspects including the reactions of the people in favour or against the Bt Brinjal will be taken into consideration. The viewpoints of stakeholders including agriculturists, scientists, health experts, consumer groups, citizen forums and NGOs will be considered.”

Ramesh said that the statutory panel, Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), has recommended the environmental release of Bt Brinjal in India on the basis of recommendations of the review committee on genetic manipulation.