Scientists have approved GM mustard for commercial cultivation; the Govt must clear that too

The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee’s (GEAC’s) decision to approve genetically modified (GM) mustard for commercial cultivation is a step in the right direction. The GEAC’s expert committee on GM mustard has accepted a scientific dossier. Deepak Pental, a former Delhi University vice-chancellor, prepared the dossier. The post-environmental release studies on pollinators like honey bees were cleared by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. In short, scientists have approved GM mustard; now the ball is in the court of politicians. And it is here that the shoe pinches; often politicians are unable or unwilling to feel the pinch. It happened in 2009 when Jairam Ramesh, holding the environment portfolio, placed India’s first GM food, Bt brinjal, under a moratorium, even though it got the regulatory approval. The scientist proposed, the politician disposed. The reason was the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance, which was in power at that time, was quite influenced by Leftists. In fact, Congress president Sonia Gandhi had surrounded herself with a circus called the National Advisory Council (NAC) which was filled with professional revolutionaries, incorrigible commies, and anti-development activists. This bunch of people was opposed to anything sensible and reasonable. This was the reason that Ramesh had to bow to their demand and shelved the innovation. Will it be 2009 redux in the case of GM mustard?

To be sure, Prime Minister Modi is no Manmohan Singh; there is no ‘super-prime minister’ breathing down his neck. And there is no NAC, regularly coming up with revenue-guzzling entitlement schemes. But Modi also has to face the naysayers—both from the Left and from the Right. The good thing is that Modi has little regard and less time for pinkish jholawallahs, the orphaned children of Marx and Mao. But there are also Sangh Parivar apparatchiks who remain opposed to everything that can help the nation. It may not be easy for Modi to dismiss his ideological brethren as antiquated activists. So, Swadeshi Jagran Manch co-convener Ashwini Mahajan has told the media that “GM mustard is neither Swadeshi nor safe. It is neither good for health nor for the environment.” He alleged that it is herbicide-tolerant mustard and so there will be greater use of herbicides which have been proven to be carcinogenic. He wondered as to how the GEAC could give such approval when it is proven that glyphosate is carcinogenic. It may be pointed out here that the SJM has been resisting GM mustard for quite some time. It wrote to PM Modi in 2017, calling GM mustard crop as “unscientific, toxic and anti-bio-diversity.” The Government must also remember that some people are temperamentally and doctrinally opposed to anything new. They opposed the Green Revolution. The Prime Minister will be well-advised to ignore the views of the opponents of GM mustard.