The CPI(M) is planning a multi-pronged attack on the Union government. It will oppose tooth and nail certain bills the Centre proposes to get cleared in parliament shortly.
KOLKATA: The CPI(M) is planning a multi-pronged attack on the Union government. It will oppose tooth and nail certain bills the Centre proposes to get cleared in parliament shortly. The CPI(M)’s first and most important target is the national biotechnology regulatory bill, 2008. It will also oppose the formation of the national biotechnology regulatory authority.
While the party’s peasants wing, Krishak Sabha, will launch a national campaign against the bill, the party will also field renowned biotechnologists and agriculture scientists in its awareness programmes.
Krishak Sabha state secretary Shamar Baora said they will not oppose the bill as a whole but will surely object to the clause pertaining to “genetically-modified agriculture products”.
“We have consulted a number of biotechnologists and agriculture scientists and all of them are of the opinion that the proposal for genetically-modified agricultural products encouraged in the bill will have multiple adverse effects,” he said.
According to Baora, if the bill is cleared production of genetically-modified agriculture products would become legal in India.
“It is clear that this proposal is mooted to benefit multinational food processing companies. It will harm the interests of small and marginal farmers.”
The CPI(M) will highlight how the Union government was hurrying to get the bill cleared keeping parliament in the dark on its details.
Opposing the formation of the national biotechnology regulatory authority, Baora said its formation was totally unwarranted since the Union government was not providing enough funds to the Indian Council for Agricultural Research.
r_sumanta@dnaindia.net
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