Prominent farmer leaders have told the Narendra Modi-led government that if it does not take action to stop illegal genetically-modified crop cultivation, they will be forced to take up country-wide agitations.

In a letter to the apex regulatory body for gene technologies, Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), at a press conference in Delhi, demanded that the event developer be made legally liable for any illegal GM crop cultivation in the country.

"We will strongly resist any move to bring in GM crops into the country, including through illegal cultivation, as was the case with Bt cotton in India. This is a clear case where the government has to take a sane policy decision, using a precautionary approach and ensure that GMOs do not jeopardise our environmental sustainability or farmer livelihoods or consumer health," said Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Yudhvir Singh.

The letter, signed by farmer unions included the BJP Kisan Morcha, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Bharatiya Kisan Union, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Agragami Kisan Sabha, AIKKS and Swadeshi Jagaran Manch, stated their demand of introduction of new gene technologies under the purview of regulations under the EPA 1989 Rules.

Badrinarayan Chaudhary of Bhartiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) asked the government not to fall prey to fake farmers' organisations and their demands in favour of GM crops. "This is a case of failed and hazardous technologies that are trying to be introduced through a backdoor route. The ones who are encouraging farmers to choose and illegally grow GM seeds is bio-terrorism. We, as aware farmer unions, working for the benefit of farmers, demand the government to take measures to curb the spread of illegal GM seeds in India,"

he said.

"Our regulators need to ensure that their primary mandate, that of protecting citizens from the risks of modern biotechnology, is fulfilled fully," said Kapil Shah of Jatan, Gujarat. A delegation had earlier met the GEAC officials on July 12 to put forward their demands for regulations.

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