Pawar suspects genetically modified crops opposed by vested interests

NAGPUR: Union agriculture minister andNCPsupremoSharadPawar gave a new twist to the controversy on genetically modified (GM) crops like cotton and soyabean. He said the fact that lobbies in the United States could be funding campaigns in India against GM crops, especially in soyabean, so as to protect the interests of large seed and oil exporters.

"India is a major importer of edible oils. We spend to the tune of Rs 60,000 crore on edible oil imports. Of this, soya oil is a big chunk. If soya GM crop is taken up on a large scale in India, its output and that of oil extracted from it would increase considerably and at some time exports may not be required," said Pawar adding that he suspected that MNCs that would be hit hard could be funding campaigns against GM soya crop in India.

Similarly, he discounted opposition to Bt cotton saying this appeared only in media. "If Bt cotton crop was not good, why would 92% of cotton growers switch over to it of their own volition," asked Pawar noting that cotton crop last tear was remarkable. He made these remarks at the VED council conference on Saturday evening as well as at the press conference here on Sunday before sharing the dais with BJP leader Nitin Gadkari at a chemists' conference.

Meanwhile, Pawar continued taking jibes at the Congress flagship social projects like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme (MREGS) and the proposed Food Security programme that envisages distributing very cheap food grains to 67% of the country's population.

"As a principle I am not against giving cheap grains to poor who deserve help. But under this new scheme the subsidy of Rs1.6 lakh crore would be required. This puts unbearable strain on the already precarious financial situation and a huge burden on the Union budget," said Pawar.

"Moreover, if we project that nearly 70% of the population needs such dole, the question that would inevitably crop up is what have we done in the last 65 years to alleviate poverty. It reflects rather poorly on our economic achievements. Instead of such large beneficiaries, it would make sense to target only the needy poor for the scheme," said Pawar.

About MNREGS, he said it needs to be changed a lot. Like sowing and harvest, operations in private farms could be brought under MNREGS. Right now it is getting difficult to get farm hands because two days of MREGS wages is enough to buy food grains for a month and the men prefer sitting idle for the rest of time. "If MNERGS labour is provided for farm work, at least the farmer would ensure that the labour is properly used unlike in present government work which is not accountable," explained the senior politician.

Seen as a political strategist par excellence, Pawar refused to give a certificate to Congress youth icon Rahul Gandhi who has been elevated to the post of party vice-president recently. "If the Congress has decided to give chance to generation next, it is a good idea. But I have hardly had any interaction with him till now and hence in no position to comment on his work and effectiveness," said Pawar.

The veteran leader said he was sure that the UPA formation would remain intact till 2014. About friction with the Congress at the state and the Centre, he said it was noting unusual. "It's like a domestic fight in a family, nothing serious. Though the Congress as well as the BJP, the two main parties have internal problems, I do not see any political combination coming up in the coming days. At least for the NCP there are no alternatives," said Pawar.