Dear Dr Manmohan Singh

I write to you to address a matter of the greatest importance to our health, environment and the state of our world – Genetically Modified (GM) foods/crops. Given that thousands of citizens of this country including eminent scientists like Dr Pushpa Bhargava have already written to you expressing their strong concerns on this matter, I believe that you would respond to my urgent concern. There is overwhelming scientific evidence that the process of Genetic Engineering alters the nature of our food in unpredictable and irreversible ways. Further, during animal studies including ones conducted by GM companies themselves, evidence linked GM food with infertility, organ and tissue damage, adverse effects on growth and development, decreased immunity and even ill effects on children. The nutritional composition of foods is also known to have changed. Despite such evidence and despite the fact that a majority of countries in the world do not allow/grow GM crops/foods, there is an imminent danger of Bt Brinjal being permitted in India. The bio-safety of Bt Brinjal and 55 other plants that are being genetically modified is questionable and there is no independent research to prove its safety. In the case of Bt Brinjal, independent analysis of the crop developer’s data has shown that it is unsafe for human consumption, animal feed or for a release into the environment.

What is more, there is also enormous positive evidence on the ground of viable ecological alternatives where neither chemical pesticides nor GM seeds are needed for pest management in farming. The question about the very need for GM crops/foods is unanswered even as many GM seeds are being developed. In the recent past, there has been a positive development with the new Environment Minister expressing his reservations against GM foods. We welcome his views and would now like the UPA government to take a firm stance against GM foods/crops. You have the power and responsibility, as the head of the Union Cabinet, to prevent an irreversible health and environmental catastrophe by disallowing GMOs in our food & farming and through the promotion of sustainable agricultural technologies. You can do, if you choose to, what is right for the millions who have vested their trust in your chair. Mr Prime Minister, do not test this technology on me. I AM NO LAB RAT and I refuse to eat GM food. I urge you to put an immediate stop to all GM food trials in India as also on GM food imports into the country.

Yours sincerely