New Delhi: Cracks have appeared between the Modi government and the Sangh Parivar, with its powerful economic wing, the Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), openly flaying the government for “deceiving people” on the issue of GM crops.
On Friday, the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) under the environment ministry gave the green signal for field trials of genetically-modified (GM) rice, mustard, cotton, chickpea and brinjal at its meeting in Delhi.
On Saturday, the SJM, in a statement, lashed out, “The people of India who have elected the BJP to power are feeling deceived. They voted the BJP to power on the promises the party made to the people of India in its 2014 manifesto and speeches made by the leaders during the election.”
The BJP, in its election manifesto, had said, “GM foods will not be allowed without full scientific evaluation on the long-term effects on soil, production and biological impact on consumers.”
Recently, the government also gave indications that it was unlikely to rescind the foreign direct investment (FDI) policy for multi-brand retail that the Congress-led UPA government had notified. If the Centre moves in this direction, it could also emerge as a major flashpoint.
