Chhattisgarh Agriculture Minister, Chandrashekhar Sahu, on Monday said that the State Government opposed the cultivation of genetically modified Bt brinjal in the State, as the genetically modified crop is not safe for consumption. Sahu’s comment comes after the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee approved of commercialization of Bt brinjal.
"Brinjals are consumed by the common man as well as the poor people. In that case, it is not correct on the part of Genetic Engineering Approval Committee to approve its safety without examining it properly. We are against it,” said Chandrashekhar Sahu.
Meanwhile, the agriculture scientists in the State said that they were against State Government’s decision to oppose the cultivation of Bt brinjal. "If cabinet wants, only then the Bt brinjal would be banned, otherwise this is not State Government’s subject. If the Central Government approves it will show that the decision has been made in a hurry,” said Sanket Thakur, agriculture scientist.
Bt Brinjal is a transgenic vegetable, which carries a gene called ‘Bt’ from a bacterium, which releases toxin to kill fruit and shoot borer insects.
