EXTRACT: The Bharatiya Janata Party is opposed to using Tamil Nadu [as] a "testing ground" for genetically engineered (GE) crops, L. Ganesan, president of its State unit, said here on Monday.

Mr. Ganesan threatened to lead an agitation to fill the jails if the Government went ahead with launching such crops.
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BJP against use of genetically engineered crops
Special Correspondent
Ganesan threatens to launch agitation in State
The Hindu, November 14 2006
http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/14/stories/2006111415650700.htm

CHENNAI: The Bharatiya Janata Party is opposed to using Tamil Nadu a "testing ground" for genetically engineered (GE) crops, L. Ganesan, president of its State unit, said here on Monday.

Referring to an incident last week at a village near Coimbatore, where farmer-activists uprooted GE paddy crop on a trial field, Mr. Ganesan told reporters that it was for the Government to clarify doubts and allay apprehensions of the farmers on the implications of the use of such crops. The country had seen opposition to the adoption of genetically modified cotton crop.

Mr. Ganesan threatened to lead an agitation to fill the jails if the Government went ahead with launching such crops.

On the State Government's assurance that farm lands would not be acquired for special economic zones (SEZs), Mr. Ganesan wondered from where the Government would get land for the SEZs when it had not provided two acres of waste land each to agricultural workers.

Briefing reporters about the deliberations of the BJP State executive which met at Erode on November 11 and 12, he said the party would hold protest meetings all over the State from December 7 to 13 for highlighting the problem of rising prices of essential commodities. Accusing the UPA Government at the Centre of adopting a soft approach on terrorism, he said the organisation would hold demonstrations in all "terrorism-hit areas" in the State. He would launch the programme in Madurai on November 17. This would be followed by events in places including Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli on November 18 and 19.

Former BJP national president Venkaiah Naidu would participate in one such event at Coimbatore.

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