Madhya Pradesh minister’s GM foods remark criticised
May 1st, 2011 - 3:45 am ICT by IANSBhopal, April 30 (IANS) Known for his controversial statements on several issues, Madhya Pradesh Agriculture Minister Ramkrishan Kusmaria was Saturday criticised for “trivialising” opposition to introduction of genetically-modified (GM) crops in the state.
“The minister made a mockery of Madhya Pradesh and trivialised a sensitive issue,” NGO Ajai chief and environment activist Shehla Masood told IANS.
Speaking in the state’s Damoh district Thursday, the minister said GM food grain and vegetables would be “non-vegetarian”.
“Use of GM seeds would make every grain and vegetable non-vegetarian and end our vegetarian culture. Nothing will remain vegetarian if genes and bacteria are infused in the DNA of grains and vegetables,” said Kusmaria, who has written to union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh about the state government’s decision to oppose GM crops.
Madhya Pradesh has become the second state after Bihar to officially oppose GM crops.
Kusmaria is no stranger to controversy and has a penchant for making bizarre statements.
Earlier, when over a hundred farmers - many from his own constituency Damoh - had committed suicide after their crops were damaged, he had blamed the dead farmers’ “past sins”.
“These are old sins that are resulting in such incidents,” Kusmaria said. He elaborated by claiming that the indiscriminate use of “chemicals” has reduced the fertility and “resistance power” of agricultural land.
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- Damaged crop forces farmer to attempt suicide - Jan 10, 2011
- Farmer attempts suicide, Chouhan government on defensive (Lead) - Jan 10, 2011
- Pawar favours introducing GM crops in India - Dec 04, 2010
- Debt-ridden farmer commits suicide - Dec 29, 2010
- GM crops like East India Co, say authorities in Madhya Pradesh - Oct 30, 2009
- No GM crop trials without states' consent: Jairam Ramesh - Mar 09, 2011
- Himachal farmers going organic - 25,000 of them - Jan 18, 2012
- Trials on Himachal crops successful, says institute - Jan 29, 2012
- Punjab, Haryana procure record 200 lakh tonnes of wheat - May 11, 2012
- Punjab gets Borlaug institute of agriculture - Oct 02, 2011
- Orissa opposes introduction of Bt Brinjal in the state - Jan 13, 2010
- Madhya Pradesh farmers to get Rs.200 crore central aid - Feb 02, 2011
Tags: agricultural land, agriculture minister, ajai, bhopal, bihar, constituency, controversial statements, environment minister, food grain, gm crops, gm food, gm foods, gm seeds, jairam ramesh, madhya pradesh, mockery, old sins, penchant, sensitive issue, vegetarian culture