The invites which included Minister for Ports, Inland Water Transport Public Works Department, Ecology and Environment, Krishna J Palemar and Principal Secretary for Environment, Meera Saxena did not turn up for the event.
Criticising the Central government thrusting on the public its unilateral opinion on the success of Bt crops, Western Ghats Task Force member Kumarswamy and Biofuel Task Force Chairman Y B Ramakrishna hoped that making lopsided ideas public will be stopped, instead more opportunities will be given to people who are opposing the BT crops in the Country.
“Task Forces such as ours have a meaning in its working. We expect the Government to take our opinion too over the issue which may impact the environment,” said Kumarswamy. Dumb citizens and a deaf Government cannot make democracy work. People need to voice their opinion on the issue more vociferously and I hope the Government will heed to them, he said.
Ramakrishna criticised the Government and its scientists for presenting the Bt cotton as a model to argue their case for the Bt crops that are to follow. Questioning the Government scientists’ claim that the genetically modified seeds can be manufactured by the locals, he challenged them to show a company other than MNC supplying seed to the farmers.
Presiding over the inaugural session of the workshop, Western Ghats Task Force Chairman, Anantha Hegde Ashisara hoped that the Central Government will involve the people such as the Board members to ensure people’s voices are heard.