City green activists see red over GM mustard

Held as part of the Seed Sathyagraha to promote native seeds and produce, the Sunday event had farmers selling fresh curry leaves and saplings for kitchen gardens. Workshops on making seed balls and earthen pots apart, it also served as a perfect venue for activists to protest against Genetically Modified (GM) mustard.

The event was comes against the backdrop of hundreds of people across the country voicing their concerns against GM mustard developed by researchers at the Delhi University. In Tamil Nadu, protests were held at 45 location and the special event was organised at T Nagar, where people supporting organic living voiced out their concern. “We want to stop Genetically Modified Mustard that claims to give better yields,” says Parthasarathy VM member of Safe Food Alliance, comprising of professionals who have been fighting against genetically modified food. Mustard is a widely used ingredient in the Indian cuisine and they object the use of GM mustard wherein there are already various options present. “While the government is trying to approve transgenic mustard, there are already alternates to GM mustard available to yield improvements. The non-GM hybrids are accessible for farmers in the market,” says Praveen N of Sahaja Seeds that sells organically grown native seeds.

In 2010, the apex regulatory body Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) had cleared Bt brinjal. However, it was over-ruled by the then Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh. Activists demand a stricter look at the repercussions of transgenic mustard and demand that information be made transparent. “On several occasions, WHO has rejected or banned the GM mustard across the world. They may be allergic to humans and environment. The results of all required tests and studies to assess the impacts of this GMO is said to have been submitted to GEAC that comes under the Environment Protection Act’s 1989 Rules in the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. GM representatives refuse to share the trail data, even after an interim order by the SC which constituted a committee,” says Parthasarathy. 

The event was to give the cause a momentum and speakers like director Vetrimaran, Professor Sultan Ismail, nutrition expert Dr Thirunaryanan, Supreme Court special appointee for TN Food Security, Dr V Suresh were present.