Prayagraj (UP), November 6
BKU leader Rakesh Tikait here on Sunday said he will not allow trials of genetically modified (GM) Mustard proposed by the central government.
Addressing the mahapanchayat of farmers near Ghungroo intersection of Jhalwa, Tikait said, “The Ministry of Science and Technology has approved the trial of GM mustard. Preparations are being made to conduct trials at two places, Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh and Bharatpur in Rajasthan. We will not allow the trial, neither in Uttar Pradesh nor in Rajasthan.”
The Bhartiya Kisan Union leader said there was no reason why the GM Mustard should be allowed into the country after objections from scientists from several countries.
“When something is banned in the whole world, we have reports of 400 scientists, we have bad results of BT cotton cultivation, then what is the need for the Indian government to allow the cultivation of GM mustard. Is there a shortage of mustard in the country?” he said.
Tikait claimed there will not be a dearth of crops if the government gives farmers the right price for their produce.
He also said his group will continue to agitate for a law for seeds, under which farmers sowing seeds from foreign companies will be punished.
“You give the (right) price, the farmer will produce it and give it. In the coming time, the law of seeds will also come into effect in the country. Preparations are underway to give the right to make seeds to outside companies.
“Seed stations will be opened in the country and farmers who illegally sow seeds of companies will be fined and punished. Our agitation against all these things will continue,” he said.
Tikait attacked the BJP saying when it was in opposition it curried favour with the farmers, but now that it is in power at the centre it was throwing its lot with the traders.
“Before coming to the centre, they talked about implementing the recommendation of Swaminath, which was never implemented,” he said.
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