Farmers and consumers say no to GM food

Bangalore, Aug 9: Many Activists across the country protested against the BRAI (Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India) Bill 2013 at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Thursday.

Thousands of citizens came together at Jantar Mantar for a daylong sit-in and demanded against the withdrawal of the BRAI bill and marched towards the parliament.

The main target the protest was over the companies dealing with the genetically modified (GM) crops and also the demand of Monsanto to go back from India.

The activists also gifted an Indian flag made out of organic fabric, which does not have Monsanto's cotton seed used in its production, to the Prime Minister of India, urging him to unfurl this non-Monsanto, non-Bt cotton flag on August 15.

"BRAI as a bill is only for the benefit of and aimed to protect the companies like Monsanto", said Badri Joshi, secretary of Gujarat Khedut Samaj.

He also said that Genetically Modified crops were means to enslave independent India's farmers by making them permanently dependent on companies dealing in GM crops.

Another activist from Gujarat says that GM crops had implications on health, environment and independence of the country.

The Bill is now under review of the Parliamentary Standing committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forest.

The BRAI Bill has been facing strong opposition inside and outside the parliament as it would facilitate the fast track entry of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into agriculture and environment.

Leaders from various states and other social movements like the Right to Food campaign, Mazdoor, Kisan Shakti Sanghatan, National Federation of Indian Women, Greenpeace India were also present at the dharna.

OneIndia News

(with agency inputs)