Delhi govt ‘stands by farmers’, says will oppose GM mustard

“The Delhi government stands by the farmers and consumers of this country. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has already communicated the views of the government to the Prime Minister
of India in a letter in January 2016, urging the Centre not to approve GM mustard. The struggle against GM Mustard is not partisan. It is a necessary cause that we need to fight together. AAP stands with the farmers and

AAP stands with the farmers and consumers of India. I appeal to every political, spiritual and religious leader to oppose GM mustard and stand by our farmers,” said cabinet minister Kapil Mishra, who was present at the festival.

The festival saw members of representatives of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, Bhartiya Kisaan Union, Bharitya Kisan Sangh and Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture in attendance. “The government is not listening to technologists, scientists, agriculturists, activists and fellow politicians who are all opposing GM mustard. Why is it listening only to the vested interests and GM lobbies? We oppose this policy of introduction of GM mustard and ask the Modi Government to redact it immediately,” said Ashwani Mahajan from Swadeshi Jagran Manch.

“The government is not listening to technologists, scientists, agriculturists, activists and fellow politicians who are all opposing GM mustard. Why is it listening only to the vested interests and GM lobbies? We oppose this policy of introduction of GM mustard and ask the Modi Government to redact it immediately,” said Ashwani Mahajan from Swadeshi Jagran Manch.

Several farmer collectives have opposed GM Mustard, calling it unnecessary. “GM Mustard is unsafe, unwanted and unnecessary and has no place in Indian agriculture. Sarson symbolises the deep

“GM Mustard is unsafe, unwanted and unnecessary and has no place in Indian agriculture. Sarson symbolises the deep relationship between Indian culture, agriculture and the farming community of India. In the context of threats like transgenic mustard, it is important to highlight the valuable native diversity of mustard, and to reconnect citizens with the importance of mustard,” said Kavitha Kuruganti from the Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture.

“I appeal to every political, spiritual and religious leader to oppose GM mustard and stand by our farmers. I ask Baba Ramdev ji, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Mohan Bhagwat to fight this menace, which will destroy India’s organic mustard. India should unite for Sarson,” an official statement said.

“The Swadeshi Jagran Manch has taken the difficult path as well to fight for their India-centric economic policy, even if it means opposition of the central government under the BJP. I congratulate them for their large-heartedness towards national food safety and security,” Mishra said.