Farmers protest against FBAE Chief's remarks on their leader
Bangalore, Sep 11 (UNI) Commotion prevailed for some time in a colloquium on Agricultural Biotechnology held here today when members of some Farmers' organisations voicefeously protested against the comments made by a noted scientist that their leader was bribed by the forces opposed to Genetically modified seeds.
Din ensued in the event organised by Foundation for Biotechnology Awareness and Education (FBAE) when the farmers took the Foundation President Dr S Shantharam to task for levelling charges against the former Karnataka Rajya Ryota Sangha President late Prof Nanjundaswamy, that he had received gratification for raising a statewide protest against GM seeds.
Wordy duel continued for some time with the farmers saying that the scientist had levelled unfounded charges that Prof Nanjundaswamy had received money from anti-GM seeds lobby and had taken a group of farmers on a tour of Europe during his tenure.
The farmers charged to the dias and asked Dr Shantharam, who was present, to prove his allegations. They also demanded an apology from the scientist.
They alleged that the Foundation was promoting GM seeds despite the fact that a forward country like the US had banned its use.
Initially Dr Shantharam refused to apologise. However, after persuation he apologised after some time that cooled the tempers of the farmers.
Police arrived in time and prevented the situation from going out of hand.
UNI