The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : CPI against Biotech Bill

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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

CPI against Biotech Bill

Staff Reporter

Says it will give MNCs monopoly over seed production

ADILABAD: The Communist Party of India (CPI) is preparing ground to oppose the National Biotechnology Regulatory Bill, slated to be tabled in the current session of the Parliament.

The party has already initiated a debate on certain objectionable provisions of the Bill, including one that specifies penal action against those who ‘mislead' the public about the safety of genetically modified crops.

GM seeds

In a chat with The Hindu on Thursday during his visit to Adilabad town, K. Ramakrishna, president of CPI farmer's wing, Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham, said that the Union government has endeavoured to benefit multi-national companies producing genetically modified seeds.

Inclusion of a penal provision in the Bill is a proof of its intention to let MNCs operate unrestricted.

Talking about this provision, meant to ‘gag' any opposition to the Centre's effort, the CPI leader said the MNCs manufacturing GM seeds will gain monopoly over the seed production in a few years if the Bill was allowed to pass.

He said that companies were waiting for passage of this Bill before they start marketing GM seeds of even wheat and paddy.

Suspicious

“The speed with which the Government is trying to bring in this legislation makes us suspicious. Why did the UPA authorities fail to do anything about the Seed Act of 2004,” questioned Mr. Ramakrishna.

The issue was discussed at the April 11 meeting hosted by CPI at the ANGRAU.

“Even the AP Government is opposed to certain provisions in the Bill,” he revealed.

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