Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking the Central government to re-consider its decision of introducing genetically modified mustard crops into the market.
The letter addressed to Mr. Modi says that experiments are being conducted on genetically modified crops at DU without a No Objection Certificate (NOC) being sought from the government, which is illegal. University officials have refuted these allegations.
The letter sent to the PM on January 2 reads: “From various media reports it has been found that the Central government is going to give a go-ahead to genetically modified mustard on February 5. The application is pending with the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests. If it is given a go-ahead, there is great danger to our forests, crops, farmers and to our environment.”
“It is pertinent to mention here that genetically modified crops are being tested here in some laboratories in Delhi University without a NOC from the government, which is an illegal act,” it added.
Professor at DU’s Genetics Department Deepak Pental, who has been working on genetically modified crops for a long time, told The Hindu : “There is nothing illegal about what we are doing in our labs. I am sure Mr. Sisodia is being misguided by some people from NGOs with their own vested interests. Since he is on such an important position, it will have an effect if he says something like this.”
“There is nothing wrong or illegal about genetically modified crops. If Mr. Sisodia wants a better opinion on the subject he should talk to me or to other scientists who have been working on the subject for a long time,” Mr. Pental added.
Mr. Sisodia’s letter also asks the Centre to make data on bio-security related to genetically-modified mustard available on a public platform to enable a discussion on the subject among farmers and scientists.
Deputy CM asks Centre to rethink introduction of genetically modified mustard crops
