Pointing to differences in the government over the way introduction of genetically modified Bt brinjal has been put on ?indefinite? hold, human resources development minister Kapil Sibal on Friday said issues related to science should be best left to the scientific community to decide.
Sibal, a former minister of science and technology, evaded a direct response on environment minister Jairam Ramesh?s decision to put an indefinite moratorium on Bt brinjal but his message was clear.
?Some matters are best left to the scientific community to resolve. The government must trust the scientists on their decisions unless, of course, there is strong evidence to the contrary,? Sibal told The Indian Express. He made it clear that his comments were not targeted at any specific decision.
?I am sure the environment minister would have based his decision on sound scientific opinion. We have to trust our scientists and accept their advice on scientific issues,? Sibal said. ?One of the many advantages of genetic engineering is that it reduces the use of pesticides and fertilisers which are highly carcinogenic. It does offer exciting new possibilities in agriculture,? he added.
His comments reflect an unease within a section of the government over the way a critical policy decision, the introduction of genetically engineered foodcrops, has played out as a minister pushing his ?ideological? agenda to loud applause from activists. In fact, agriculture minister Sharad Pawar had earlier?before Ramesh announced his decision on Tuesday?come out in support of Bt brinjal.
The moratorium on Bt brinjal was announced despite it being approved by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), the technical body empowered to decide on such issues.