AIKS demands UPA Govt to withdraw GO

Vijayawada, Apr 2 (UNI) The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) today demanded the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre to withdraw the recent Government Order (GO), keeping Bt cotton and pesticides out of the purview of the Essential Commodities Act (ECA). Addressing a press conference here, AIKS Vice-President Kolli Nageswara Rao alleged that the Centre had hastily issued the GO to help US multinational Monsanto and Mahico Biotech Limited (MMBL) in order to sell their products at exorbitant rates.

The Centre had withdrawn these products from the purview of the ECA following pressure from vested interests, he charged and warned that the Union Government would be held responsible for any consequences if it failed to withdraw the GO.

The AIKS leader said he had petitioned the Monopoly Restrictive Trade Practice Commission when MMBL was selling the 450 gm Bt cotton-1 seed packet at Rs 1,850, instead of selling it for Rs 650.

UNI