SARSON SATYAGRAHA LAUNCHED AGAINST GM MUSTARD

SARSON SATYAGRAHA LAUNCHED AGAINST GM MUSTARD:

DIVERSE ORGANISATIONS JOIN HANDS AND PLEDGE TO KEEP INDIA GM-MUSTARD-FREE

 

New Delhi, July 31, 2015: Eminent activists and various civil society outfits joined hands together and launched the Sarson Satyagraha against the entry of GM mustard into India, by offering their prayers to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat today. The participants pledged that they will work towards ensuring seed sovereignty of India, biodiversity conservation, protecting farm livelihoods and food safety.

 

The event saw the participation of Anupam Mishra, Rajinder Singh, Dr Vandana Shiva, Dr Sudhirendar Sharma, Vijay Pratap, Dr Claude Alvares, Kapil Shah, Umendra Dutt, Mohini Mohan Mishra (Bhartiya Kisan Sangh), Ashwani Mahajan (Swadeshi Jagran Manch), Mahesh Kumar Sharma (former Rajya Sabha Member), Dr Mira Shiva, Kavitha Kuruganti, Abhishek Joshi, Aneel Hegde, Ananthoo and others.

They decided to initiate a public debate through public awareness creation, and condemned the secrecy that is driving the current regulatory regime. “The current opaqueness around GM mustard shows that they have something to hide”, they said. “If the government does not keep the interests of citizens, their health and environment at the top of its decisions, citizens will be forced to intensify their satyagraha”.

 

They also pointed out that there are many questions around the genuineness of the research claims and the research project itself around GM mustard. Experts cited data on the increased illnesses in countries like the USA after the advent of GM foods. The fact that GM mustard will leave no choices for either farmers or consumers if allowed to come into India was emphasized. A letter (attached) was sent to the Minister for Environment, Forests & Climate Change raising important concerns related to GM mustard.

 

For more information, contact:

Abhishek Joshi: (0) 9717088005;

Kavitha Kuruganti: 09393001550.