Swadeshi Jagran Manch is the second RSS-affiliated body which has opposed GM mustard as its approval was given by the Genetic Engineering Evaluation Committee.
Swadeshi Jagran Manch is the second RSS-affiliated body which has opposed GM mustard as its approval was given by the Genetic Engineering Evaluation Committee.
genetically modified (GM) mustard Ashwini Mahajan, national convener of Swadeshi Jagran Manch affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, said it is dangerous and not ‘swadeshi’ at all. In a letter to Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupendra Yadav on Friday, Mr Mahajan urged the government to ensure that crop seeds are not allowed to be planted “now or ever”.
Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) is the second RSS-affiliated body which has opposed GM mustard as its approval was given by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) which works under the Environment Ministry. RSS’s farmer organization Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) had opposed this earlier as well.
In his letter to the Union Minister, Mr Mahajan said that the SJM has always been opposed to the introduction of “dangerous” and “unnecessary” GM mustard through the back door.
“It is because of raising major issues of concern regarding this GM mustard that the then Union Environment Minister kindly intervened and took the right decision to keep the regulatory clearances in operation and seek review. However, the regulatory body “Presumably, no such review worthy of the name. Regulators are joining hands with GM crop developers and repeatedly compromising the regulatory regime quite seriously, and they have done the same with this GM mustard,” They said.
The National Convener of SJM said that the claim that GM mustard is indigenous and has been developed in India is completely untrue as it is obtained through two genes ‘Bernsey’ and ‘Barstar’, which are Bacillus amyloliquifascian. It is obtained from soil bacteria called.
“Baar Barstar-Bernage Gene is a patented technology of Bayer Crop Science. Bayer is not an indigenous company,” said Mr. Mahajan.
The SJM further said that the claim is also baseless and misrepresented that GM mustard will increase domestic production and reduce our import dependence.
“Not only is GMO mustard based on Bayer’s patented Barnes-Barstar-Bernays gene system, for which royalties will be paid, it is said to promote the use of glufosinate, an herb from which Bayer can use its existing brands. Therefore it is clear beyond doubt that the country will be severely dependent on MNCs for patent access and import of herbs, leading to greater outflow of valuable foreign exchange from the country.
GM mustard has never been tested as an herbicide tolerant crop, while the development of this glufosinate-tolerant crop was in violation of India’s pesticide regulations.
The SJM said that GM mustard will affect the business of beekeepers, farmers and will also have an impact on Indian systems of medicine in which mustard is widely used.
“It is also important to note that glufosinate is a dangerous herbicide like glyphosate. It is irresponsible for the regulatory body to recommend an environmental release, and then ask for an environmental release after testing, that well Knowing that GM technology is a living technology, irreversible and uncontrolled once released into the environment,” SJM said.
The SJM said that because India has not allowed GM in food crops, the non-GM tag on agricultural exports helped the country in getting orders from European countries, where GM is banned. It added that the moment GM enters Indian food crops, that non-GM tag will be lost, India will lose out on the export front.
“We are confident that as a person who has carefully studied the adverse effects of GM crops and published opinion on the same in the past, you (Environment Minister) will immediately intervene in this matter, and ensure that no GM mustard Don’t have a seed. The SJM official said, planting of saplings is allowed now or anytime.