Karat defends Pillai,says didnt deviate from party line on GM crop

While senior CPM Politburo member S Ramachandran Pillais assertion that opposition to genetically modified crops was superstitious triggered a row.

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While senior CPM Politburo member S Ramachandran Pillais assertion that opposition to genetically modified crops was superstitious triggered a row,as it was seen as contrary to the Left-ruled Kerala governments policy decision,the CPM has said it is not opposed to GM crops and the remarks were not a deviation from the party line.

CPM general secretary Prakash Karat told The Indian Express that the party has always maintained that GM crops should be used only after implementing adequate trials and safeguards,and that its opposition was only to the technology being monopolised by multinationals and their domestic collaborators. What he (Pillai) has said is the understanding of the party. He also explained why we are opposed to Bt cotton and Bt brinjal, Karat said,adding that Pillai too had talked about the control of multinationals on GM crops.

A row had been generated over Pillais remarks after the CPI,which holds the agriculture portfolio in the Kerala Cabinet,declared that the trial of the GM crops would not be allowed in the state. CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan also asserted that there was no question of the party approving the use of BT brinjal at present. We are not opposed to the technology. We are only saying that MNCs like Monsanto have a monopoly over GM products and,in the specific case of Bt brinjal or for that matter Bt cotton,there is no need for GM seeds as India has a rich diversity of local varieties, a senior CPM leader said.

Defending Pillai,party leaders referred to a 2009 central committee report that looked into the question of Bt brinjal,and said the government had been playing into the hands of big agri-businesses like Monsanto. That resolution too argued for GM crops to be used after adequate trials,and urged that biotechnology be used through public research institutions.

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