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'Trying to take middle path on Bt-Brinjal'
India Blooms News Service
Bangalore, Feb 6 (IBNS) Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh on Saturday lost his cool again in the last of the public consultations on the genetically modified Bt-Brinjal as he ordered removal of a protester, but later said he was tying to take a middle path on the controversial issue.
"I am not an extremist. I am trying to take a middle path," he told reporters in Bangalore after the heated exchange at the public consultation.
"All public consultation is over now. I will now decide," he said, informing that on Feb 10 he will let know the nation if Bt Brinjal cultivation would be cleared by his ministry.
He said on the issue he has to look into the interest of the consumer too beside brinjal producers and that he was acting on a mandate of the Prime Minister who supports genetically modified crop for food security.
"I am not playing to scientists' gallery or NGO gallery or political gallery," he said.
He said he lost his cool only when he was accused of being an agent of Monsanto, the US company with the Bt-Brinjal technology.
He said he had sleepless nights on the issue for months and aged.
Ramesh on Sunday last faced angry protests of farmers in Hyderabad at the public consultation on Bt-Brinjal cultivation.
He had faced protest also in Kolkata during the first public consultations on Jan 13.
Consultations were held in Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Nagpur, Ahmedabad and Chandigarh.
Amidst much controversy and protests, the genetically modified Bt brinjal was cleared by a government panel for commercial cultivation in October last.
The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), country's bio-technology regulator, has approved the commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) Bt brinjal. If approved by the government, it will become the first GM food crop in India.
Anti-Bt-Brinjal groups argue that its cultivation will affect the small farmers.
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