Four BJP MPs refuse to be part of Monsanto junket
24 Aug 2014 4:49 AM IST
The week-long study tour begins on Saturday for which the company has sent invitations to 15 MPs from various parties including four from BJP. It was learnt that BJP leadership has asked its MPs to stay away from the trip.
Last month the BJP-led NDA government put field trials of 13 genetically-modified (GM) crops on hold reportedly after two affiliates of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which include Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM) and the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS), raised objections. It is not clear yet whether Shiv Sena MP will be a party of this tour.
There are speculations that Monsanto, involved in GM trials, is taking the MPs following government’s decision to put the GM crop trials on hold in India. The MPs will attend a show which will focus on the importance of GM crop in terms of its quality.
The programme under the banner of ‘Farm Progress Show’ will be shown to the MPs in Iowa and also they will be taken to company’s headquarters in Missouri. Sources said, the trip will cost an estimated Rs 363,540 per head for travel, food and accommodation and it will be borne by the company.
Earlier, on 29 July, Environment and Forests minister Prakash Javadekar had halted the field trials, overruling the recommendations of the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee. His decision reversed the previous Congress-led UPA government’s push for trials of GM crops.
In its election manifesto this year, the BJP said GM foods will be allowed only after scientific evaluation of their long term effects.
Last month the BJP-led NDA government put field trials of 13 genetically-modified (GM) crops on hold reportedly after two affiliates of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which include Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM) and the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS), raised objections. It is not clear yet whether Shiv Sena MP will be a party of this tour.
There are speculations that Monsanto, involved in GM trials, is taking the MPs following government’s decision to put the GM crop trials on hold in India. The MPs will attend a show which will focus on the importance of GM crop in terms of its quality.
The programme under the banner of ‘Farm Progress Show’ will be shown to the MPs in Iowa and also they will be taken to company’s headquarters in Missouri. Sources said, the trip will cost an estimated Rs 363,540 per head for travel, food and accommodation and it will be borne by the company.
Earlier, on 29 July, Environment and Forests minister Prakash Javadekar had halted the field trials, overruling the recommendations of the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee. His decision reversed the previous Congress-led UPA government’s push for trials of GM crops.
In its election manifesto this year, the BJP said GM foods will be allowed only after scientific evaluation of their long term effects.
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