Citizens protest against GMOs, Monsanto and BRAI Bill
Citizens across 20 Indian states came at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Thursday for a day-long sit-in and marched towards the Parliament demanding immediate withdrawal of Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill,2013.
An Indian flag made out of organic fabric, which does not have Monsanto’s cotton seed used in its production was the centre of focus of this event.
This flag was later gifted by the congregation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, urging him to unfurl this flag on Aug 15.
The gathering saw senior political leaders from various political parties including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) , Janata Dal(United), Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Telugu Desam Party (TDP) addressed the gathering and pledged support on this people's struggle to keep their food and farming free from Genetically Modified (GM) crops and Multinational seed corporations and promised to oppose the BRAI Bill in the Parliament.
Political parties expressed their opposition to corporate control of agriculture.
Communist Party of India (CPI) National Secretary D Raja said, “Indian agriculture is in deep crisis because the government is opening up agriculture for MNCs like Monsanto. The communist party of India has been fighting for Indian agriculture, which is important component of our economy. The government is allying with MNCs and if this continues, food security can’t be achieved in this country.”
BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi said, “Seed sovereignty is important to this country. In my view, the negotiations on agriculture are more dangerous than the nuclear negotiations. The foreign pesticides, fertilisers have ruined our soil and cattle. Farmers’ land belongs to them and is not for corporate control."
"Indian farmers should go back to the traditional ways of farming like using organic fertilisers and planting indigenous seed varieties," he said.
The protest at Parliament Street occured at a time when the Union government has introduced the BRAI Bill, 2013 in Parliament in the Budget session.
The Bill has been facing strong opposition both inside and outside the Parliament as it would facilitate the fast track entry of GMOs into our agriculture and environment.
“The BRAI Bill is India's Monsanto Protection and Promotion Act, it will give a free hand to Monsanto and other Biotech giants to control our food security and endanger small farmer livelihoods. In order to protect our seed sovereignty it is important that notorious corporations like Monsanto along with their controversial GM technology Quit India,” said Neha Saigal, campaigner, sustainable agriculture Greenpeace India.
The BRAI Bill proposes to set up a centralised single window clearance system which is designed to lower the bar for GM crop approvals with no independent long-term safety assessments or need assessment of a particular GM product.
Besides this, it takes away the decision-making power of state governments on open field trials in their respective states.
The Bill has also faced flak from RTI groups as it proposes to override the RTI Act.
The Bill is now under review of the Parliamentary Standing committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forest.
“BRAI is not being opposed only by farmers or civil society, it has faced stringent opposition from most political parties; except NCP and a section within the Congress party, all other political formations are against the BRAI Bill," said Rajesh Krishnan, Co-Convenor of the Coalition for a GM-Free India.
"This is being forced upon us with its clauses restricting access to information, curtailing power of the states, circumscribing people’s right to go to court and other objectionable provisions which are clearly beneficial only for the biotech industry,” Krishnan said.
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. IBNS
This flag was later gifted by the congregation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, urging him to unfurl this flag on Aug 15.
The gathering saw senior political leaders from various political parties including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) , Janata Dal(United), Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Telugu Desam Party (TDP) addressed the gathering and pledged support on this people's struggle to keep their food and farming free from Genetically Modified (GM) crops and Multinational seed corporations and promised to oppose the BRAI Bill in the Parliament.
Political parties expressed their opposition to corporate control of agriculture.
Communist Party of India (CPI) National Secretary D Raja said, “Indian agriculture is in deep crisis because the government is opening up agriculture for MNCs like Monsanto. The communist party of India has been fighting for Indian agriculture, which is important component of our economy. The government is allying with MNCs and if this continues, food security can’t be achieved in this country.”
BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi said, “Seed sovereignty is important to this country. In my view, the negotiations on agriculture are more dangerous than the nuclear negotiations. The foreign pesticides, fertilisers have ruined our soil and cattle. Farmers’ land belongs to them and is not for corporate control."
"Indian farmers should go back to the traditional ways of farming like using organic fertilisers and planting indigenous seed varieties," he said.
The protest at Parliament Street occured at a time when the Union government has introduced the BRAI Bill, 2013 in Parliament in the Budget session.
The Bill has been facing strong opposition both inside and outside the Parliament as it would facilitate the fast track entry of GMOs into our agriculture and environment.
“The BRAI Bill is India's Monsanto Protection and Promotion Act, it will give a free hand to Monsanto and other Biotech giants to control our food security and endanger small farmer livelihoods. In order to protect our seed sovereignty it is important that notorious corporations like Monsanto along with their controversial GM technology Quit India,” said Neha Saigal, campaigner, sustainable agriculture Greenpeace India.
The BRAI Bill proposes to set up a centralised single window clearance system which is designed to lower the bar for GM crop approvals with no independent long-term safety assessments or need assessment of a particular GM product.
Besides this, it takes away the decision-making power of state governments on open field trials in their respective states.
The Bill has also faced flak from RTI groups as it proposes to override the RTI Act.
The Bill is now under review of the Parliamentary Standing committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forest.
“BRAI is not being opposed only by farmers or civil society, it has faced stringent opposition from most political parties; except NCP and a section within the Congress party, all other political formations are against the BRAI Bill," said Rajesh Krishnan, Co-Convenor of the Coalition for a GM-Free India.
"This is being forced upon us with its clauses restricting access to information, curtailing power of the states, circumscribing people’s right to go to court and other objectionable provisions which are clearly beneficial only for the biotech industry,” Krishnan said.
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. IBNS
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