RSS’s farmer body BKS against GM Mustard, claims it could cause cancer
The BSK said that the GEAC, Delhi University, and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India work together on issues related to genetically modified crops.
The Union Environment Ministry’s Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) approved the commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) mustard one day after the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) farmer body, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) spoke out against the move, saying that it could cause cancer and is bad for health.
Also Read | No AGMARK certification need for imported blended edible vegetable oil
In a letter to the Central government, the BSK said that GEAC, Delhi University, and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) are all working together on issues related to genetically modified food crops.
The All India General Secretary of BKS, Mr. Mohini Mohan Mishra, told The Hindu that the GEAC’s study said that GM mustard is Herbicide Tolerant (HT) mustard.
He also said that GM mustard has always been looked at closely and called it a ‘scientific fraud.’
‘HT technology is mostly bad for your health. It is a bad technology that kills soil, microbes, pollinators, almost all medicinal herbs, and crop diversity. It can also give people cancer, said Mr. Mishra, who also said that the GEAC is not strong enough to stop unwanted, failed (HIV-high investment variety) GM food crops from getting into India’s farming system and food chain.
He also said that GEAC’s actions are not based on science or economics when it comes to GM crops. Also Read | SOPA urged govt to prevent illegal imports of genetically modified (GM) soyabean
Mr. Mishra said, ‘We ask the Central government to look into this right away and make sure that their mandate and accountability are in line with the goal of non-chemical, self-sustainable agriculture to give our people enough healthy food through eco-friendly farming.’
Add Comment