Date:24/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/24/stories/2008012454540600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Demand for removal of NBA chairman

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: South Against Genetic Engineering, a coalition of over 50 civil society organisations in southern States, has demanded removal of the National Biodiversity Authority Chairman S. Kannaiyan, for his comments favouring genetically modified crops (GMC).

P. V. Satheesh of Deccan Development Society and convenor of the coalition said it was unfortunate that a person heading a body that is expressly meant for protecting the biodiversity should lobby for GMCs that had the potential to destroy it.

“Genetic engineering not only perpetrates monocultures but also unleashes non-tested unnatural products ,” he said.