On Gandhi birth anniv, Sarson Satyagraha to oppose GM mustard

Expressing their resistance against GM-mustard, thousands of people joined 'Sarson Satyagraha' in 18 states on Gandhi Jayanti today, asserting the hybrid variety is "unwanted, unneeded and unsafe".
The 'Satyagraha' took various forms ranging from Gram Sabha resolutions to remain GM-free to taking part in a mustard festival, organised by the Delhi government to gather public feedback on GM mustard.
Eminent citizens, scientists, film personalities, farmer leaders, artists, and activists took part in these events.
The 'Satyagraha' organisers called upon independent scientists from various subject of expertise to speak out now to ensure regulation on GM mustard is "rigorous, independent and transparent".

They urged state governments to assert their constitutional authority over agriculture and health and write to the Centre before "it is too late".
They asked citizens to assert their right to safe food and environment, right to informed choices and ensure governments are accountable towards them.

"We have now understood well farcical and sham processes of consultation that GEAC (country's biotech regulator) is engaging in, in a biased and selective fashion," said Kavitha Kuruganti, Convenor, Coalition for a GM-Free India.
The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) had constituted a sub-committee of scientific experts to examine the bio-safety data on GM-mustard.

"The sub-committee's last meeting was in April 2016 and no more meetings after that, even though we had been invited in July 2016 and gave a lot of evidence that any scientist with integrity would have been concerned about," Kavitha said.
She said beekeepers and honey industry have also expressed concern the GM-mustard will adversely impact their livelihoods and enterprises but "the regulators and the government are turning a deaf ear to them".
"So, it is a case of ignoring science, commerce, federal politics and citizens interests in this mindless push for a junk product. What is worse is that the government ignores its own party members and affiliated groups in its undemocratic ways," she said.

The GEAC sub-committee's report was placed on the Environment Ministry website, inviting comments.
Activists have alleged that the sub-committee did not have any health expert and three of its members have conflict of interest.
The Coalition said the government has asserted it won't extend the public feedback deadline on the report beyond originally announced date of October 5.
It alleged that the government continued to refuse to publish the GM mustard biosafety dossier on its website which is violation of orders by CIC and Supreme Court.