At a public meeting in the Institute of Agricultural technologists (IAT), Kodihalli Chandrasekhar, president, Karnataka Rajya Raithara Sangha (KRRS) assured that over 5,000 farmers from the state will join the yatra when it ends at Raj Ghat, in New Delhi, on December 11.
"Almost the entire nation is united against Bt. But the agriculture minister seems to be more interested in cricket. Even the government has been sleeping over such vital issues. Least said the better about our CM. We farmers cannot be forced into Bt," Chandrasekhar said, adding that the Centre must immediately scrap agreements with corporations like Monsanto as "these corporations are only interested in profiteering at poor farmers’ expense."
Enlisting the other demands of the framers, he said, "State agricultural universities must also be directed to stop any GM crop trials as this will be against the organic farming policies being pursued by the government. Even USAID-supported Bt brinjal must be cancelled."
He also asked the central government to play a pro-active role in legislations like Seed bill and bio-technology regulatory authority of India (BRAI) bill. "A Rs 30,000 fine on erring seed companies isn’t enough. They must be sent to jail.”
Farmers and activists from across the country out on the yatra shared their experiences about Bt. Kultar Singh, a farmer from Punjab, detailed out how these issues have now reduced his state to a `dying civilization’. "The country must learn from our experience. Today, no farmer’s son wants to take up agriculture nor does any graduate in agricultural science," he said.