US lobbying for introduction of Bt Brinjal in India: Report

Last Updated: Wednesday, February 10, 2010, 00:53

Tags: US lobby, Bt Brinjal, Jairam Ramesh

US lobbying for introduction of Bt Brinjal in India: Report

Zeenews Bureau

New Delhi: Amidst a sharp divide in the country over Bt Brinjal’s proposed commercial farming, reports claimed Tuesday that the United States is pushing for the GM variant’s introduction in India.

Nina Fedoroff, science adviser to the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, arrived in India late last night to presumably lobby for Bt Brinjal. She is reported to have met Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and several other top government officials.

Nina Fedoroff is seen worldwide as the biggest lobbyist for GM foods.

The US Embassy and the Environment Ministry denied that Fedoroff's visit had anything to do with the decision on Bt Brinjal.

"She arrived here last night. There are no appointments scheduled with the environment minister," a US Embassy official said.

The development came even as reports said Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh is likely to announce his ministry’s final decision on Bt Brinjal’s introduction and commercial cultivation this evening itself.

Ramesh meanwhile said that he had not met Fedoroff.

Official's visit has nothing to do with BT Brinjal: US Embassy

The US today rubbished reports that its Science and Technology Adviser Nina Fedoroff was here to push for introduction of BT Brinjal in India, saying she had nothing to do with the issue.

"Her visit has no connection to India's consideration of BT Brinjal," US Embassy spokesperson said here while reacting to reports that Fedoroff was meeting policy-makers here to lobby for allowing commercial cultivation of the genetically-modified vegetable.

The Spokesperson said Fedoroff was in New Delhi at the invitation of the Indian scientific community.

Agencies inputs

First Published: Wednesday, February 10, 2010, 00:53

Comments

Petrus -
Now I know why India lost the hockey match against Pakistan. The Indian players ate modified Bt Brinjal after the first half.

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Bharat - Bharat
To prove there`s nothing wrong with this Brinjal, Ms. Nina Fedoroff ought to eat this Brinjal cooked in India together with her family for the next one month. What she can lobby - she can eat!

Perhaps introducing this kind of food is what our PM had in mind when he announced couple of days back that the food prices will be brought back under control. And in appreciation of his valiant efforts, we should cook this Bt Brinjal and serve it to him and his family on a daily basis for the remainder of his tenure.

For heaven`s sake, please STOP interfering with nature. Go green!

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Nirmal Singh - Delhi
Brinjal is Indian vegetable India should nt open its gates to such low quality products. BT Brinjal is combination of bacteria gean with Brinjal & as theyt say its resists parasites and it CAN cause Parkinson disease if we consume it.