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Fast against Bt brinjal held on Martyr’s Day
On occasion of the National Martyr’s Day on Saturday more than 8,000 people of 14 districts of the participated in a national fast here and strategised the future course of action against the entry of Bt brinjal.
Prominent Gandhian, Gouranga Mohapatra, traditional paddy conservator Natabara Sarangi, thousand of organic farmers, teachers,’ media personnel, civil society personnel took part in the fast.
Our State Government has taken a clear policy stand against introduction of Bt brinjal into Odisha. Our scientists in the Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology have spelt scientifically sound reasons against the introduction of Bt Brinjal in the State. Agriculture Minister Damodar Rout has written to Minister of Environment and Forest Jairam Ramesh against the introduction of Bt brinjal in the State,” the organizers said.
Contamination of traditional varieties is very real in the wake of the commercial approval pending for Bt brinjal — India’s first GM food crop.
Brinjal is normally a cross-pollinated crop, the extent of cross-pollination varying between 5 to 48 per cent, and therefore poses more threat of contamination.
Such contamination of traditional varieties of brinjal with Bt brinjal will contaminate the traditional varieties and make farmers permanently dependent on seed multi nationals for seeds and endanger the health safety of consumers, they said.
Unfortunately, a section of the Central Government and a part of the scientific establishment has decided to be a part of this design of seed multinationals. This has outraged the whole nation.
So people from different walks of life-doctors, environmentalists, ethical scientists, concerned Ministers, teachers, farmers, advocates, media personnel, students, businessmen and mothers have decided to launch a decisive second Quit India movement against Bt brinjal now and all genetically engineered crops in future.
