A greater number of concerns were voiced at the fifth of the seven consultations on Bt Brinjal. This was held at the Law Bhawan, Chandigarh. A majority, which represented farmers, scientists, NGOs and other groups, said ‘No To Bt Brinjal’.

Jairam Ramesh pleads with the protesters who barged into the venue.

Twelve of the 20 odd farmers voiced their concerns with the possible introduction of Bt Brinjal. While some of these spoke from their experience with Bt Cotton—and the resultant new pests like millibug, new infections in the plant and deteriorated soil health over a period of time—others raised questions about the serious health problems with pesticides, which were also introduced by these very companies. They felt that alternatives should be considered rather than going in for another technology whose effects in the long run are not known. Upendar Singh of the Bhartiya Kisan Sangh reminded the audience that the farmer is a scientist in his own right and his knowledge on the field must be taken into account seriously.

Of the 10 scientists present at the consultations, five raised their concern with specific reference to Bt Brinjal. Dr. G.P.I. Singh, Director, Medical College, spoke of genetically modified foods being associated with 65 diseases like cancers, multi-organ disorders, and unpredictable mutations and stressed on the need for long-term and multi-generation tests. He also underscored the fact that this is an irreversible technology.

Scientists with an understanding of organic brought out the direct relation between Bt Cotton and allergies in the United States. While some scientists shot down the arguments on health, suggesting that the concerns on cancer and health were irrelevant and bogus, Dr. Mira Shiva emphatically stated that the hasty introduction was completely blind-spotted the risk to health. She pointed to several problems including those related to the presence of an anti-biotic marker gene, inadequacy and incompleteness of inter-generational tests, increased vulnerability to communicable diseases. However, when she questioned why the Health Ministry representatives had not raised these issues in the GEAC, she was shouted down by the Minister, who insisted that the integrity of the GEAC must not be questioned.

Dr. P. Anand Kumar, member of the GEAC, was also present though he was booed by the audience and not allowed to speak.

Points of concern that were raised in this session included problems related to diversity contamination, which was raised by agricultural economist Subash Sharma. Gayatri Sharma of Himachal Pradesh spoke of soil deterioration. Also highlighted were the facts that there were no epidemiological studies to refute that there was no correlation between the increasing ailments in the United States following the introduction of Genetically Modified foods.

Protestors barged into the small room with limited seating and challenged Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh, saying that the session was initiated much before the proposed time, and did not allow all the people present to make their point.

Team Chandigarh

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Students of Punjab University gather here at the Students Centre to say 'Stop Bt Brinjal'

This demonstration was in anticipation of the public consultation on Bt brinjal to be held in Chandigarh on the 29th January. The Consultation is part of the series of 7 public consultations the Minister for Environment and Forests, Jairam Ramesh is chairing before deciding on the approval of the country’s first Genetically Modified (GM) food crop, Bt brinjal.

Bt brinjal has been produced by inserting a toxin gene, Cry1Ac, from a soil bacterium called Bacillus thuringenesis [Bt] into brinjal plant using the technique of genetic engineering. Bt brinjal has been developed by Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company Ltd [Mahyco], and the producers claim that by producing the toxin the plant will be able to kill the major insect pest in Brinjal, the Fruit and Shoot Borer. Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), the regulatory body approved the crop on the basis of the safety test data presented by Mahyco.

However, there is no long term feeding studies to prove the safety of this crop. Independent experts including Supreme Court nominee in GEAC, Dr. Pushpa Bhargava has pointed out that there are several short comings in the tests conducted by the company. The stiff resistance from different sections of the society following the approval forced the Government to conduct public consultations before taking a final decision.

The Public consultations at Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Ahmedabad and Nagpur saw scientists, farmers and consumers rejecting Bt brinjal. Besides this, eight Indian states – Orissa, West Bengal, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have stated clearly that they would not permit Bt brinjal in their states.

Dr. Manjit Singh of the University clearly stated that “Introducing these foods will not only be an attack on human health, but on the entire civilization, environment and ecological diversity we are gifted with.” He emphatically stated that we must fight this in the spirit of a war.”

Prof. Lallan Baghel of the University stated that “We will be writing off the future of the very youth of this nation if Bt brinjal or any other GM crop is commercialised.”

“We are tinkering with the future of our children rather than taking measures to protect them. Moreover, it’s an irreversible process and it is unacceptable to unleash this risky technology onto the coming generations, “stated Umendra Dutt, Executive Director of Kheti Virasat Mission who was also present at the occasion. There is no doubt that if Bt brinjal is permitted, it will open the flood gates for over 56 crops, which are under various stages of trial across the country.

Students and professors urged the State Governments of Punjab and Haryana to join in their efforts and like other state heads take a position against Bt brinjal. This even as they implored citizens of Chandigarh to join the consultation in Chandigarh on the 29th of January and say no to Bt Brinjal for the sake of food safety and food security of the nation.

Notes to the editor
GM free Coalition is a coalition between NGOs, farmers, scientist and Consumer groups across India.

For further details please contact:
Prof. Manjit Singh – +91 9876725391
Umendra Dutt of Kheti Virasat Mission +91-9872682161
Shivani Shah, Campaigner, Sustainable Agriculture, Greenpeace India, +91 9986877364

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Chandigarh, January 25, 2010: Farmers Unions, Scientists and Consumer groups came together to say a firm No to Bt Brinjal. This was at a press conference organised by the GM free India Coalition at the Press Club today. This was in anticipation of the public consultation on Bt Brinjal to be held in Chandigarh on the 29th January. The Consultation is part of the series of 7 public consultations the Minister for Environment and Forests, Jairam Ramesh is chairing before deciding on the approval of the country’s first Genetically Modified (GM) food crop, Bt Brinjal.

Dr. Shiv Chopra, a noted micro biologist and food safety specialist, who played a key role in pulling the plug on Monsanto’s Genetically Modified rBGH vaccine in Canada, addressing the media emphatically pointed out that “The approval (of Bt brinjal) will be the beginning of the end of Indian agriculture.”

Bt Brinjal has been produced by inserting a toxin gene, Cry1Ac, from a soil bacterium called Bacillus thuringenesis [Bt] into brinjal plant using the technique of genetic engineering. Bt Brinjal has been developed by Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company Ltd [Mahyco], and the producers claim that by producing the toxin the plant will be able to kill the major insect pest in Brinjal, the Fruit and Shoot Borer. Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), the regulatory body approved the crop on the basis of the safety test data presented by Mahyco.

However, there is no long term feeding studies to prove the safety of this crop. Independent experts including Supreme Court nominee in GEAC, Dr. Pushpa Bhargava has pointed out that there are several short comings in the tests conducted by the company. The stiff resistance from different sections of the society following the approval forced the Government to conduct public consultations before taking a final decision.

The Public consultations at Kolkata, Bhubaneswar and Ahmedabad saw Scientists and farmers rejecting Bt Brinjal. Besides this, eight Indian states – Orissa, West Bengal, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have stated clearly that they would not permit Bt brinjal in their states.

Farmer Union Leader, Balbir Singh Bling, who was present at the press conference raised concerns related to agriculture, and sovereignty. “By controlling seeds, these corporations will control Indian agriculture, and the entire food system. These are the companies, which introduced fertilisers and pesticides suggesting that we could not do without them. Now, talking about their very ill effects, these very companies want to introduce this so-called panacea to all our problems – GM foods. This is unacceptable.”

“Bt Brinjal is a Trojan Horse and if permitted, will open the flood gates for over 56 crops, which are under various stages of trial across the country” said Umendra Dutt , Executive Director of Kheti Virasat Mission . He further opined that “There is no reason for approving a risky crop like Bt Brinjal when there are tried and tested non pesticide management techniques developed together by State Agricultural Universities and farmers are being practiced in thousands of acres in our country.”

Speaking at the occasion Mr R. K Kaplash, the Chairman of Consumer Coordiantion Council, an umbrella organisation of consumer groups in India called Bt Brinjal the greatest threat to consumer rights. “Once commercialised, there will be no mechanism by which a consumer could distinguish between a regular brinjal and GM brinjal, thereby killing consumer choice forever”.

The coalition urged people of Punjab and Haryana to join the consultation in Chandigarh on the 29th of January and say no to Bt Brinjal for the sake of food safety and food security of the nation.

Notes to the editor
GM free Coalition is a coalition between NGOs, farmers, scientist and Consumer groups across India.

For further details please contact:

Umendra Dutt of Kheti Virasat Mission +91-09814173342
R.K Kaplash of Consumer Association Chandigarh +91-9872682161

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