Oppn stage walkout over Bt cotton issue in state assembly

17 Feb '06

2 min read

Reacting to the Government's reply on a calling attention motion, on issue of hardships faced by farmers cultivating Bt cotton in the state, the opposition parties staged a walkout from Madhya Pradesh Assembly.

Samajwadi Party's Dr Sunilam and CPI(M) member Ramlakhan Sharma, walked out midway when the issue was being discussed.

Leader of Opposition Jamuna Devi, led Congress members out of the assembly after state Agriculture Minister Choudhary Chandrabhan Singh's reply.

Singh said that state Government cannot ban cultivation of the Bt cotton as the Central Government had permitted it.

Damage to the crop had occurred due to physiological disorder in two development blocks of Pati in Badwani district and Nisarpur in Dhar district, whereas Bt cotton is being cultivated in 12 districts, he said.

Singh informed that survey was carried out by four state-level committees, led by Principal Agriculture Scientist.

The survey revealed, scarce rain caused crop damage in two blocks of Badwani and Dhar districts, whereas the crop was almost average in other areas, he added.

Samajwadi Party member Dr Sunilam claimed that Monsanto Mahico Biotech India Limited's genetically modified seeds have caused financial losses to thousands of farmers.

Dr Govind Singh, Mr Arif Aqueel and Mr Ramniwas Rawat (all Cong), moving the motion, alleged that Bt cotton seeds were being sold at high prices.

They added that pests damaged the crops, affecting production and pushed farmers in a debt trap.

Cattle which consumed Bt cotton seeds died, whereas the crop caused allergy to humans, argued Jamuna Devi.

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