Letters: Bt truths

This refers to the editorial "The row over GM crops" (November 7). Bangladesh recently approved the release of Bt brinjal. In contrast, India had banned the release of Bt brinjal and research on other genetically modified (GM) crops. Bt brinjal was ready for release four years back but the ministry of environment banned it. So now, farmers in India will have to smuggle seeds Bt brinjal seeds from Bangladesh. It also seems likely that Bangladesh will soon release a promising variety of golden rice - with critical Vitamin A in it - that will also have to find a smuggling route to India. When agricultural scientists and researchers in India have to witness the creation of smuggling routes for GM crops, how does one expect us to have any enthusiasm to work on high-tech agriculture? If the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) can take a decision on allowing foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail then what has stopped them, and the Supreme Court from supporting scientific research on GM crops in India? Within the UPA, only one minister, the minister of agriculture, supports GM crops. In contrast, another minister, the minister of environment, opposed GM crops. Who will succeed in these tug of wars?

Chandrashekhar G Ranade Fairfax, Virginia

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