By Team Mangalorean Bangalore

Bangalore Jan 23: Joining the growing opposition to commercial cultivation of genetically modified Bt brinjal, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today said the state government would not allow the growing of the breed in the state.

Talking to reporters here, he said he had written a letter to Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar in this regard yesterday. "I will not take any decision that may harm the interest of farmers in Karnataka. Bt brinjal could seriously affect the interests of peasants," he said. He said there was no agreement at the central government level also on its introduction as ministers were issuing contradictory statements. 

Though Yeddyurappa did not name the ministers, he was referring to Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh disagreeing with reported statement of Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar that the central government had no say in the matter as an expert committee's clearance to this effect was final. 

Meanwhile, Centre for Environment Education, southern regional cell, which had planned to organise the National Consultation on Bt brinjal in the city on January 25, said in a statement here that the meeting had been postponed to February six due to "unforeseen conditions." Karnataka has joined the states like Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Orissa, Chattisgarh and Kerala, which have come out in open against commercial release of Bt brinjal.

The government's Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) had cleared Bt Brinjal last October for commercial cultivation, after which the final approval was to be given by the environment ministry. Ramesh is now holding public consultations on the subject around the country. Bangalore's turn comes Feb 6. 

Opposing the release of Bt brinjal, Karnataka Rajya Ryata Sangha (KRRS) today accused the Union Government of falling into the hands of the multinational Bio-technology companies of the West in attempting to release Bt brinjal commercially. It demanded immediate ban on any type of cultivation of Bt brinjal.

KRRS President Maruti Manpade, in a statement said the Sangha would organise a massive farmers protest during the consultative meeting on Bt brinjal to be held in the city next month.

"Experts and agri-scientists are clear in their opinion that growing and consumption of Bt brinjal can adversely affect human health as well environment. Without scientific evaluation and in-depth research, Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) has given approval. The Centre is using the GEAC nod to hasten the release of the breed for commercial cultivation," he alleged.

Groups opposed to Bt Brinjal organised a protest in Bangalore late Friday with a large number of college students dressed in life-sized brinjal costumes distributing brochures to the public in the city centre urging them to attend the public consultation and speak out against Bt Brinjal. Besides Karnataka, other major brinjal growers are Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.