New Delhi: Rejecting appeals and protests from civil society and scientists, the Union environment ministry is not going to extend the time period to seek public representations on genetically modified Mustard crop and the ministry’s deadline for comments comes to a close on Wednesday.

Monsanto recently decided that it would stop the release of new genetically modified (GM) cotton technology because of “uncertainty in the business and regulatory environment”. At the same time, it was reported that GM mustard has moved closer to obtaining clearance for commercial cultivation in India following a key committee’s favourable assessment on issues of soil suitability and risks to health and ecology.

India is now the site of a “battle royalty”, in the struggle between localisation and globalisation of power, between freedom for India and its citizens, through swadeshi and swaraj, and freedom of a cartel of three MNCs — selling poisons as pesticides and pesticide producing GMOs. India finds itself (once again) torn between its unforgiven history and uncertain future state. Back in 1857, the sepoys of the East India Company’s private military rose against their indignant monopolistic “masters” in “the mutiny”. The Industrial Revolution brought with it colonialism. Colonies of cotton, indigo, opium (and other) plantations were installed, to feed the machines of the Industrial “Revolution” — patented machines, built by patented machines. The company was (is) a monopoly based on patented machines and patent letters. The Monsanto-Bayer (MOBAY) merger is a mere show.

New Delhi, Oct 4 (PTI) Raising twenty objections against the biosafety report put out by Environment Ministry on GM Mustard, environmentalist Vandana Shiva today said Independent studies, health and socio-economic factors should be taken into account before exposing 1.5 billion Indians to the "unscientific GM fraud".

Several groups of environmentalists, farmers, beekeepers and NGOs have been protesting against the possibility of the government's approval for commercial cultivation of genetically-modified (GM) Mustard in India.

New Delhi, Oct 4 () Strongly opposing any move by the country's biotech regulator to grant approval to GM-Mustard, an RSS body has sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention alleging that vested interests are acting in haste, spreading falsehood and hiding facts on the issue.

New Delhi: On Wednesday evening, the environment ministry’s genetic engineering approval committee’s (GEAC) one-month deadline for comments on allowing commercialization of Genetically Modified (GM) mustard crop expires, but the panel has a difficult road ahead. The GEAC is the nodal regulator for GM crops.

Progressive farmers and supporters of natural farming/organic agriculture have launched a state-wide campaign titled ‘sarson satyagrah’ against the government’s move to allow genetically modified (GM) mustard.