The farmers have opened a front against multinational seed companies. Hundreds of farmers of the district took out a rally at the district headquarters on Tuesday and demanded a ban on it. This demonstration of the farmers was held under the banner of Beej Swaraj Abhiyan Madhya Pradesh (Sampark).

Jagran Correspondent
Jhabua

The way multinational American seed production companies are treating India as a big market and pushing their product aggressively has posed serious implications for the health of humans and cattle. Concerned over this, Malwa-Nimad Unit of Beej Swaraj Abhiyan Madhya Pradesh staged a furious demonstration of the hundreds of knowledgeable farmers on Tuesday at the district headquarters.

During this unique demonstration, farmers took out funeral of BT brinjal and mourned the American companies to express their anger against them. The rally started from Utkrishta Vidyalaya and reached the collectorate through various major streets. There the farmers amidst loud slogans handed over a resolution in which it was mentioned that earlier too thousands of farmers were driven to suicide by bringing BT Cotton.

The farmers were furious over the fact that after BT Cotton, now BT vegetables were being brought in the country. They mentioned that particularly lady finger, brinjal and tomato were being brought and if these vegetables reached the market, human health would be ruined.

State Convener of Beej Swaraj Abhiyan Nilesh Desai said that seeds of foodgrains and vegetables prepared through BT technique were a strategy to ruin our agriculture. He said there was deep conspiracy behind this and the government was unaware of it.

During the protest demonstration, Bherulal Solanki, Bhuwansingh Gehlot, Shambulal Patidar of Kashtkar Sangha, Lakshman Muria of Lok Jagriti Manch and Brijbhushan Singh Rathore of Seemant Kisan Parishad vowed to stage a big demonstration in Delhi on 6 May.

(Translated from original Hindi news report, published in Dainik Jagran, Indore, dated 9 April 2008)