Dear Dr Anbumani Ramadoss

Sub: Thank you for opposing GM foods & for being on the side of ordinary Indians

Congratulations on the farsighted statements you have made in the PMK’s farmers’ conference in Kancheepuram yesterday on the issue of genetically modified crops and food. It is quite heartening to see your concern about the health and environmental impacts of GM crops/foods and we feel reassured that you are putting the interests of ordinary consumers at the centre of your Ministry’s policy in this matter.

Even as evidences on the deleterious health impacts of GM crops are piling up across the world, India is moving inexorably closer to the approval of the first GM food crop, Bt Brinjal, in the country. It is at this juncture that civil society organizations and farmers’/consumers’ movements across India decided to come together to raise our voice against the forceful introduction of GM food in India and thousands have written to you as part of the “I am no lab rat” campaign, to express their concern to you. We are grateful to see that you are indeed ready to respond to citizen voices from around the country and that you would not allow violation of citizens’ basic right to safe food and right to food of their choice with the entry of GM foods. We take heart from your call for collective opposition to GM foods and this letter is to extend our hearty support to you in this matter. Waiting eagerly for your Ministry to take the necessary steps in this matter and thanking you again,

Yours sincerely