Swadeshi Jagran Manch is the second RSS affiliated physique that has opposed the GM mustard since its approval was given by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee
Swadeshi Jagran Manch is the second RSS affiliated physique that has opposed the GM mustard since its approval was given by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee
Genetically Modified (GM) mustard is harmful and never ‘swadeshi’ in any respect, mentioned Ashwani Mahajan, nationwide convener of Swadeshi Jagran Manch, an affiliate of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh. In a letter written to Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change on Friday, Mr. Mahajan, urged the federal government to make sure that the crop’s seed is just not allowed to be planted “now or ever”.
Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) is the second RSS affiliated physique that has opposed the GM mustard since its approval was given by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) that works beneath the atmosphere ministry. Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS), the farmer’s physique of RSS, had opposed the identical earlier.
Mr. Mahajan, in his letter to the Union Minister mentioned that the SJM has all alongside been opposing the “dangerous” and “unneeded” GM mustard being introduced in by way of the backdoor.
“It is because of our raising of the key issues of concern about this GM mustard that the then Union Environment Minister has kindly intervened and took the right decision of keeping in abeyance the regulatory clearance in its operationalisation and seeking a review. However, the regulatory body, predictably, did not take up any such review worth the name. The regulators are joining hands with GM crop developers and are time and again compromising the regulatory regime quite seriously, and they have done so with this GM mustard also,” he added.
The SJM nationwide convener added that the declare that GM Mustard is Swadeshi and has been developed in India is totally unfaithful as the identical is achieved by the use of the 2 genes ‘barnase’ and ‘barstar’, derived from a soil bacterium known as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.
“The bar-barstar-barnase gene is a patented technology of Bayer Crop Science. Bayer is not a swadeshi Company,” mentioned Mr. Mahajan.
The SJM additional mentioned that the declare that GM mustard will improve home manufacturing and cut back our import dependence can be unsubstantiated and wrongly projected.
“Not only that GMO Mustard is based on Bayer’s patented Barnase-barstar-barnase gene system for which royalty shall be paid, it is said to promote usage of Glufosinate, an herbicide from which Bayer will benefit the most through its existing brands. Therefore it is evident beyond doubt that the nation would be seriously dependent upon MNC for usage of patents and import of herbicides causing greater outflow of valuable Foreign exchange from the country,” it added.
GM mustard has by no means been examined as a herbicide tolerant crop, whereas the event of this glufosinate-tolerant crop was in violation of India’s pesticides rules.
The SJM maintained that the GM mustard will influence the occupation of bee keepers, farmers and also will have implications on Indian Systems of Medicine by which mustard is broadly used.
“What is also important to note is that glufosinate is a dangerous herbicide, like glyphosate. It is irresponsible for the regulatory body to recommend environmental release, and then ask for testing to be done post-environmental release, knowing fully well that GM technology is a living technology, irreversible and uncontrollable once released into the environment,” added SJM.
The SJM mentioned that as a result of India has not allowed GM in meals crops, non-GM tag on the agri exports helped the nation in fetching orders from European nations, the place GM is banned. It added that the second GM enters Indian meals crops, that non-GM tag can be misplaced India would lose on export entrance.
“We are confident that as a person who has carefully studied the adverse impacts of GM crops and also published opinion pieces on the same in the past, you (the environment minister)will intervene immediately in this matter, and ensure that no GM mustard seed is allowed to be planted, now or ever,” the SJM workplace bearer added.
Source: www.thehindu.com