FORMER SC JUDGES OPPOSE BILL ON BIOTECHNOLOGY Chetan Chauhan chetan@hindustantimes.com Ahead of the winter session of Parliament, former judges of the Supreme Court have questioned the efficacy of three bills on new regulatory authority for biotechnology sector, unfair practices in higher education and constitution of education tribunals. The winter session has hectic agenda for MPs […]
Bt cotton fails farmers in Tamil Nadu
Bt cotton fails farmers in state CHENNAI: For Arul Venkatesan, a cotton-growing farmer in the Aroor block of Dharmapuri district, the stand that Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa took in the Assembly in August, that her government will not “promote” GM crops in the State, “struck the ears like music”. Venkatesan was one among the thousands […]
More MPs write to PM against BRAI bill…..
Ms Ashwadesh Devi, Shri Umashankar Singh and Shri Omprakash Yadav – Lok Sabha MPs – also write in to the Prime Minister, asking him not to introduce the BRAI Bill in the Parliament.
Farm & Food Activists Demand Scrapping of BRAI Bill 2011
FARM & FOOD ACTIVISTS DEMAND SCRAPPING OF BRAI BILL 2011: Ask State Govt to raise its voice against the Bill and protect farmers’ interests – Seek disallowing of GM crop field trials in the state Chennai, November 11, 2011: Farmers’ leaders from all over Tamil Nadu, cutting across various affiliations, demanded that the Union Government […]
BJP leader asks PM not to introduce BRAI Bill
BJP leader asks PM not to introduce BRAI Bill Patna, 8/11/11: Bihar BJP president C P Thakur has asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh not to go ahead with the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill in its present form in the winter session of Parliament. “This bill has major problems that require your immediate […]
Members of Parliament write to PM on BRAI Bill
MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT WRITE TO THE PM, AGAINST THE BRAI BILL Capt. Jainarain Nishad, former Union Minister for Environment has written to the Prime Minister, expressing concern over the Government of India pushing forward the BRAI Bill. Prof Anil Kumar Sahani, a Rajya Sabha MP, has also written to the PM, pointing out that the […]
Cotton yield may fall to 5-year low
Right from the beginning, it has been seen that in good years, when the yields are good, industry gives credit to Bt cotton; in bad years, blame it on the rain! Cotton yield may fall to 5-yr low The cotton revolution through Bacillus Thuringiensis, popularly known as Bt, has been losing its sheen gradually over […]
“Reject BRAI Bill in NDC Meet”: Coalition for a GM-Free India to all CMs
Press Release Coalition for a GM-Free India asks Chief Ministers to demand rejection of BRAI Bill at the NDC meeting. Sends out Faxes to all CMs pointing out that the BRAI Bill is anti-constitutional and negates State Governments’ rights over Agriculture and Health sectors, even while it promotes dangerous GM crops. New Delhi, 21st October […]
Chattisgarh will not allow GM crops
Chhattisgarh will not allow GM crops Author(s): Jyotika Sood Issue: Oct 31, 2011 Chandrasekhar Sahu, agriculture minister of Chhattisgarh, is passionate about making farming a viable proposition for farmers. He has written several books on the subject and is a frequent contributor to environmental journals. Talking to Jyotika Sood, he says the challenges in a […]
Biotech Bill against the spirit of Gandhi: Swaminathan
Biotech bill against the spirit of Gandhi: M S Swaminathan CHENNAI: On the 142nd birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, noted agricultural scientist M S Swaminathan told The Times of India that the proposed Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (Brai) bill is against the spirit of Gandhi and decentralised governance. “The bill has a single-window clearance […]
VJAS complains to ToI against ‘paid news’ on Bt cotton & Vidarbha
To The Editor The Times of India Nagpur & Mumbai Dear Sir, Sub: False advertising campaign by Mahyco Monsanto Biotech in Times of India starting August 28, 2011. A serious instance of ‘paid news?’ More than once in the past some reporters of the Times of India (certainly in Nagpur) have shown much sensitivity and […]
“Got a Plant, will republish for a fee”: on Paid News….
It is unclear whether ToI had actually published a retraction or rejoinder or explanation about this. “Got a plant, will republish for a fee” The Times of India reruns a three-year-old story on Bt Cotton without any updates as paid news. It is described as a consumer connect initiative. Why did Mahyco Monsanto Biotech get […]
Government sabotaging Public Debate on Genetically Modified (GM) Crops by the introduction of BRAI Bill
Press Release: Coalition for a GM-Free India “Government sabotaging Public Debate on Genetically Modified (GM) Crops by the introduction of BRAI Bill”: “No Vision for Sustainable Development, No Transparency, No Public Consultation, No Role for State Governments, No Biosafety Guarantees, No Needs Analysis, No Impact Assessment and No effective Liability and Redressal mechanisms in the […]
BRAI BILL 2011 A BLATANT ATTEMPT TO BULLDOZE RESISTANCE & CONCERNS
Press Release: COALITION FOR A GM-FREE INDIA BRAI BILL 2011 IS NO BETTER THAN ANTI-PEOPLE, ANTI-NATURE BRAI 2009: IT IS A BLATANT ATTEMPT TO BULLDOZE STATE GOVTS’ & CITIZENS’ RESISTANCE AGAINST AND CONCERNS ABOUT GM CROPS: “WRONG BILL BY WRONG PEOPLE FOR WRONG REASONS: ALL PROGRESSIVE PARTIES AND THEIR MPs SHOULD REJECT THE VERY INTRODUCTION […]