Farmers, NGOs raise Slogans as Ramesh starts talks on Bt Brinjal

Hundreds of angry protesters today raised slogans and waved placards here as Union Environment Minister M Jairam Ramesh today commenced a national consultation, the last in the series, on the controversial move to introduce Bt Brinjal.
 
Farmers, NGO's and members of various organisations condemned the move to introduce Bt Brinjal, carrying placards with slogans like "we don't need Bt Brinjal."
 
The consultation witnessed some angry farmers arguing that introduction of Bt Brinjal was not safe, as research conducted in the field was still insufficient. Seed owners would not end up being farmers, but multinationals, they said.
 
A huge posse of police personnel was deployed, even as protesters raised slogans while the debate was on.
 
Today's meeting here is the last in a series of nationwide public consultation meetings on Bt Brinjal, in which groups, NGOs, technologists and others would air their views.   
Ramesh has already stated that a final decision on commercial introduction of Bt brinjal would be taken by February 10.