FARMER UNIONS, CITIZENS’ GROUPS AND SCIENTISTS STRONGLY OPPOSE GM MUSTARD; DEMAND THAT STATE GOVERNMENTS WRITE TO CENTRE AGAINST GM MUSTARD APPROVAL
Hyderabad, August 13, 2016
A Round Table meeting of citizens’ groups including major farmer unions and scientists, held on the subject of GM crops in general and GM mustard in particular demanded that the state governments of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh write to the Centre cautioning the Government of India against approving any GM food crops like GM mustard in India.
Given that mustard is widely used in all cuisines across India, they expressed their objection against any moves by the Centre to approve transgenic mustard, that too in the name of yield improvements, given the fact that many alternatives to GM mustard exist for yield improvements. This includes the fact that non-GM hybrids are available for farmers in the market, in addition to agronomic innovations like System of Mustard Intensification. The participants of the Round Table also noted that solid evidence has been presented by people’s movements already on the fact that the testing of this GM mustard was deliberately misleading and unscientific, in addition to being incomplete and secretive.
Scientists expressed their alarm that the Centre is processing a GM application that chose not to reveal the fact that the GMOs in question are herbicide tolerant (HT) crops. This will increase chemical usage in our farming in addition to displacing poor agricultural labourers from their employment. This has direct implications for all consumers with greater toxic residues in our food. This is all the more shocking given that the matter is sub-judice in the Supreme Court of India.
Participants reminded the state government that unless the state asserts its Constitutional authority over the state’s agriculture, it will not be able to protect its citizens and the environment from the hazards of GM crops.
They also asserted that the enormous push for the Genetically Modified crops is coming from Multinational Corporations and big seed companies which want to control the seed system. The Central and State governments should not bow to this pressure, and any attempts to compromise the seed sovereignty of our farmers will be strongly opposed by the farmer unions and people of India.
They urged the Chief Ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to make special efforts to intervene on this matter on a priority basis, as mustard sowing season was fast approaching and the central regulators could take a decision on the matter any day soon.
They also warned the state and central governments that they will step up their resistance if unwanted, unneeded and unsafe GMOs are thrust upon citizens of this country.
Contact: Kavitha Kuruganti: 88800 67772; Dr.Ramanjaneyulu: 9000699702; Kirankumar Vissa: 9701705743; Sridhar Reddy: 9866381090; Achutha Rama Rao: 9493965699
Joint statement issued by:
| Kavitha Kuruganti | Coalition for GM-Free India, ASHA-Kisan Swaraj |
| Dr.G.V.Ramanjaneyulu | Agricultural Scientist, Rythu Swarajya Vedika |
| Kodand Reddy | Congress Kisan Cell, State President |
| Anvesh Reddy | Congress Kisan Cell, State Vice President |
| Vadde Sobhanadreeswara Rao | Former Agriculture Minister, A.P. |
| Sridhar Reddy | Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, State Secretary |
| Achutha Ramarao | All India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha, State Secretary |
| S.Malla Reddy | All India Kisan Sabha, national Vice President |
| Dr. Veena Shatrughna | National Institute of Nutrition (Retd. Deputy Director) |
| Prof. A. Prasada Rao | Retd. Professor ANGRAU, Telangana Rythu Sangham |
| Prof. B.N.Reddy | Jana Vigyana Vedika |
| E.A.S. Sarma | Former Union Secretary, Govt. of India |
| Dr. Rukmini Rao | Rythu Swarajya Vedika convenor |
| Gurijala Ravinder | Telangana Vidyavantula Vedika, State President |
| S.Jeevan Kumar | Human Rights Forum, President |
| Sadineni Venkateswarlu | CPI(ML) New Democracy, State Secy. |
| M.Srinivas | IFTU Gen. Secy. |
| Chandana Chakrabarti | Social Activist, The March |
| Prof. E.Revathi | Professor, Centre for Economic and Social Studies |
| Dr. Salome Yesudas | Nutritionist |
| Telikapalli Ravi | Senior Journalist |
| N. Venugopal | Veekshanam editor |
| Ashalatha | Mahila Kisan Adhikar Manch, Rythu Swarajya Vedika |
| P. Shankar | Dalit Bahujan Front |
| K. Sajaya | Caring Citizens Collective |
| Ashok | Organic Farming Expert |
| Usha Seethalakshmi | Mahila Kisan Adhikar Manch, Rythu Swarajya Vedika |
| Kirankumar Vissa | Rythu Swarajya Vedika |
| Ravi Kanneganti | Editor, Tolakari |
| P. Venu Kumar | Swaraj Abhiyan |
| K. Srihari | Swaraj Abhiyan |
| Prof. Adinarayana | Jana Vigyana Vedika |
| Meera Raghavendra | WINS, Mahila Kisan Adhikar Manch |
| Kaajal | Hyderabad Rising |
| Padma | Eco-Synergy |
| Chakradhar | Samalochana |
| Sriharsha Thanneeru | Open Food Network |
| Naveen Ramisetti | Rythu Swarajya Vedika |
| Dr. G. Chandrasekhar | Agricultural Scientist |
| B. Kondal | Rythu Swarajya Vedika |
| Rajesh Azaad | Rythu Swarajya Vedika |
| Ramana Akula | Rythu Swarajya Vedika |
| Akshay | Rythu Swarajya Vedika |