New Delhi, February 15: After a Union minister vouched for Bt brinjal, Congress today backed Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh, who put a moratorium on commercial cultivation of the genetically modified vegetable, saying more research is needed before it could be concluded as a safe food.
Terming it a “very important issue”, party spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said, “Government has taken a decision and Jairam Ramesh has announced the government’s decision. We stand by the decision. The health of people is paramount.”
The party’s reaction assumes significance in the wake of Union Science and Technology Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Saturday putting his weight behind the genetically modified vegetable, saying Bt brinjal is safe as per research and emotions should be kept away from scientific merit.
The reaction is being seen as Congress distancing itself from the statement of Chavan, who is also an AICC general secretary.
–Agencies