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Martyr's day to be observed as national day of fasting.
BHUBANESWAR: To express their solidarity with nationwide protest against Bt brinjal, environmentalists, farmers, scientists, students and activists have decided to observe Martyrs’ Day as `national day of fast’ on January 30.
The day would be observed as a sign up for the occasion and people would participate in it either by fasting or lighting a candle at home or a public place. They can also send a sign up note to Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh, who held a consultation here recently on Bt brinjal.
The `national day of fast’, called by Coalition for GM-free India and National Alliance for People’s Movements would try rope in more people for the cause of a GM-free India, said activists working under the banner of United Coalition Against Genetic Engineering (Uncage) in Orissa.
The recent Bt brinjal consultation at Ahmedabad has also proved that people of the country are not in favour of any GM variety, said Uncage activists.
Ramesh, during his consultation here had expressed hope that people of Gujarat would definitely say `yes’ to the GM version of brinjal, but the Ahmedabad experience proved him wrong, they pointed out.
The democratic way in which Ramesh is lending his ear to people across the country through the consultation was hailed by the Uncage members, but they expressed surprise over the statements made by two other Central ministers on the approval of Bt brinjal by the Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation and the apex body _ Genetic Engineering Approval Committee.
This is the worst case of scuttling a democratic process, they said adding there would be a mass fasting programme on January 30 near the Lower PMG and Station Square.
Judging by the way in which the GM debate is headed, it appears as if India would not survive without Bt brinjal, but we have to oppose the people who are hell-bent on making this happen, they observed.
Martyrs’ Day to be observed
