Opinion Sugar-free

Ghaziabad

Who was kept out?

This refers to the top story in The Indian Express with the headlines screaming ‘At Jairam’s hearings,no one heard us’ (IE,February 11). The point is this: in each of these consultations,hundreds attended and scores of people could not even enter the hall for the simple reason that the ones who came first will obviously get to go in first. If some scientists choose to go late,there will obviously be no space left for the others. In fact,from what we understand,given the huge interest in the subject,the great concern and the large turnout for each of these consultations,the organisers actually shifted the venue to bigger halls wherever it was possible.

It is simply not true that “dissenting voices were not even allowed to be present or heard” and it is ridiculous to suggest that someone knew who is who,who was coming in when,who would say what and there was gate-keeping based on that! If it is not a ludicrous suggestion by the reporters,it speaks of the arrogance of the scientists who might be thinking so in giving themselves so much self-importance that someone was waiting outside to recognise them and keep

them out!

— Kavitha Kuruganti

Jaitu

The case against

Your campaign in favour of Bt brinjal rests on weak foundations. The activists,apparently,have a fairly good case. What reliance can be placed on the GEAC’s report,whose panellists are involved in GM research,who use data supplied by seed developer Monsanto,to determine safeness of Bt brinjal? When pesticide companies were setting up shop in India,we were assured pests alone would be eliminated without any concomitant harm to human health. Today,the

pest-proof nature of Bt brinjal is being touted as a compelling reason to use seeds marketed by Mahyco (Monsanto’s Indian partner)! Is it,therefore,unreasonable to suspect that 10-15 years down the line,when long-term,harmful effects of externally recombinant genes start manifesting themselves,the self-same bio-techies would come up with some new inventions to take care of our bodily conditions then?

— Ajay Tyagi

Mumbai

Not enough

In the editorial ‘Enviro-caliphate’ (IE,February 11) fears have been expressed that Jairam Ramesh ran in to put a moratorium on the adoption of Bt Brinjal for cultivation. I have a different notion. It is in the general public interest that the seed should be good for health. I suggest that an autonomous statutory body headed by eminent professionals be appointed to monitor tests. It’s clear that only 10 per cent tests,out of the 30 required,conducted by the GEAC cannot prove the final efficacy of the new variety.

— Gurmit Singh Saini

Mohali