News Analysis India

Tag: Bhupendra Yadav

  • Environmentalists see red over GM regulatory body’s keenness in pushing GM cotton field trials

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Environmental activists have written a letter to the Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupendra Yadav stating that the country’s regulatory body tried to coerce state governments into allowing trials of a controversial genetically modified (GM) cotton variety.

    According to them, this GM technology is contentious as it increases the use of dangerous pesticide glyphosate, which impacts biodiversity.

    The complaint comes aftet the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) approved the field trials of a GM variety of hybrid cotton that carries the Cry2AI gene, claimed to help in the fight against pink bollworm disease. The variety is patented by Hyderabad-based seed company Bioseed Research Limited (BRL).

    The proposal for approval for field trials was discussed in the 148th meeting of GEAC on January 31, 2023 and got approved in the 149th meeting that took place on May 17.

    Even after the regulatory body’s permission for trials, the company was in need of a no-objection certificate from the states where it planned the trials. BRL wanted field trials in Haryana, Telangana, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.

    Except for Haryana, no other state agreed to greenlight the  trials. Following this, the GEAC asked the other states why they had said no to it. This is what has drawn criticism from the activists.

    “GEAC has been trying to dismantle a system that is part of the regulatory regime in India – that of getting no-objection certificates from states before field trials take place,” stated Kavitha Kuruganti from the Coalition for a GM-Free India in the letter.

    Cotton is the only crop, whose GM varieties, the GEAC had approved in 2001 for commercial production.

    The Bt Cotton variety,  said to be resistant to the pink bollworm disease, got the go-ahead with the aim of increasing cotton production in the country. In a joint venture with the US company Monsanto, an Indian company Mahyco started producing approved Bt Cotton variety.

    After adopting Bt Cotton over 90% of India’s cotton-growing region, it was claimed that cotton production had tripled between 2002-14 and made India a top contributor to the global cotton market. However, many studies show that the claims were exaggerated and false.

    Bt Cotton did prove to be pink-bollworm resistant. But at the same time, it made some other non-targeted pests more resistant to pesticides forcing farmers to spend more on these sprays than they did before the adoption of Bt Cotton.  It worsened farmers’ debt and suicides in cotton-growing areas. Even production increased only in the range of 4-5%.

    “We note that, with the vagaries of weather and pest populations, India cotton yields often rise or fall by over 10% per year, even without major technological change,” said Dr KR Kranthi, of International Cotton Advisory Committee, USA.

    The Supreme Court is already looking into GEAC’s controversial approval of field trials of GM Mustard.

    In the letter, environmentalists stated that more scientific evidence has come up on cancer-causing Glyphosate pesticides. Because of adverse impact on humans, Bayer-Monsanto has had to pay billions of dollars to affected litigants in the USA.

    “Even in India, over 2 lakh citizens have asked the Government of India to ban Glyphosate in the country,” says Kuruganti.

    Highlights:1. The regulatory body, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee(GEAC), has approved the field trials of GM variety of hybrid cotton.2. The cotton variety will have Cry2AI gene, which is claimed to control pink bollworm disease in cotton.3. Environmentalists state scientific evidence shows that GM crops increase use of cancer-causing Glyphosate pesticide. Scientists say GM crops do not increase yields and create resistance to non-targetted pests which make farmers to invest more on pesticides. It pushes farmers into debt traps and suicides.4. Environmentalists write letter to the MoEFCC saying the GEAC attempted to exert pressure on states to allow the field trials.5. The Supreme Court is already looking into GEAC’s controversial approval of field trials of GM Mustard.

    NEW DELHI: Environmental activists have written a letter to the Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupendra Yadav stating that the country’s regulatory body tried to coerce state governments into allowing trials of a controversial genetically modified (GM) cotton variety.

    According to them, this GM technology is contentious as it increases the use of dangerous pesticide glyphosate, which impacts biodiversity.

    The complaint comes aftet the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) approved the field trials of a GM variety of hybrid cotton that carries the Cry2AI gene, claimed to help in the fight against pink bollworm disease. The variety is patented by Hyderabad-based seed company Bioseed Research Limited (BRL).googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); });

    The proposal for approval for field trials was discussed in the 148th meeting of GEAC on January 31, 2023 and got approved in the 149th meeting that took place on May 17.

    Even after the regulatory body’s permission for trials, the company was in need of a no-objection certificate from the states where it planned the trials. BRL wanted field trials in Haryana, Telangana, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.

    Except for Haryana, no other state agreed to greenlight the  trials. Following this, the GEAC asked the other states why they had said no to it. This is what has drawn criticism from the activists.

    “GEAC has been trying to dismantle a system that is part of the regulatory regime in India – that of getting no-objection certificates from states before field trials take place,” stated Kavitha Kuruganti from the Coalition for a GM-Free India in the letter.

    Cotton is the only crop, whose GM varieties, the GEAC had approved in 2001 for commercial production.

    The Bt Cotton variety,  said to be resistant to the pink bollworm disease, got the go-ahead with the aim of increasing cotton production in the country. In a joint venture with the US company Monsanto, an Indian company Mahyco started producing approved Bt Cotton variety.

    After adopting Bt Cotton over 90% of India’s cotton-growing region, it was claimed that cotton production had tripled between 2002-14 and made India a top contributor to the global cotton market. However, many studies show that the claims were exaggerated and false.

    Bt Cotton did prove to be pink-bollworm resistant. But at the same time, it made some other non-targeted pests more resistant to pesticides forcing farmers to spend more on these sprays than they did before the adoption of Bt Cotton.  It worsened farmers’ debt and suicides in cotton-growing areas. Even production increased only in the range of 4-5%.

    “We note that, with the vagaries of weather and pest populations, India cotton yields often rise or fall by over 10% per year, even without major technological change,” said Dr KR Kranthi, of International Cotton Advisory Committee, USA.

    The Supreme Court is already looking into GEAC’s controversial approval of field trials of GM Mustard.

    In the letter, environmentalists stated that more scientific evidence has come up on cancer-causing Glyphosate pesticides. Because of adverse impact on humans, Bayer-Monsanto has had to pay billions of dollars to affected litigants in the USA.

    “Even in India, over 2 lakh citizens have asked the Government of India to ban Glyphosate in the country,” says Kuruganti.

    Highlights:
    1. The regulatory body, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee(GEAC), has approved the field trials of GM variety of hybrid cotton.
    2. The cotton variety will have Cry2AI gene, which is claimed to control pink bollworm disease in cotton.
    3. Environmentalists state scientific evidence shows that GM crops increase use of cancer-causing Glyphosate pesticide. Scientists say GM crops do not increase yields and create resistance to non-targetted pests which make farmers to invest more on pesticides. It pushes farmers into debt traps and suicides.
    4. Environmentalists write letter to the MoEFCC saying the GEAC attempted to exert pressure on states to allow the field trials.
    5. The Supreme Court is already looking into GEAC’s controversial approval of field trials of GM Mustard.

  • Need sustainable lifestyle, patterns of consumerism grave threat to environment: Bhupender Yadav

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: There is a need for a sustainable lifestyle as patterns of consumerism are a grave threat to the environment, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Tuesday, warning that there is ‘no Planet B’.

    Delivering the presidential address at the 20th Darbari Seth Memorial Lecture organised by TERI, Yadav said developing countries are highly vulnerable to climate change impact.

    “Climate change mitigation is necessary but not sufficient. Even if the world stops greenhouse gas emissions today, hypothetically, still the accumulated greenhouse gases will lead to climate impact, requiring due consideration of climate change adaptation measures.”

    “Developing countries are highly vulnerable to climate change impact due to the dependence of large populations on climate sensitive sectors for livelihood,” he said in his virtual address.

    ALSO READ | Children in India, three other Asian nations at extremely high risk of climate crisis impact: UNICEF

    The minister said long-term strategies need to be guided by not only mitigation but also climate adaptation with a clear roadmap for provision of finance and technology.

    “There is a need for a sustainable lifestyle as patterns of consumerism are a grave threat to the environment. Habit and attitude are much a part of the solution. Equity and climate justice should be a touchstone of any global climate response only then we can say that we have formulated strategies which are just and in reverence for mother earth, our only planet. There is no Planet B,” Yadav said.

    Remembering Darbari Seth, the founder of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) on his 100th birth anniversary, Yadav said he was a champion of energy conservation and environment protection.

    “Darbari Seth’s life and work embodied the message that business leaders should not only be concerned with profit but also care deeply for people, the planet and peace,” he said.

    He said that there are global environmental challenges and while addressing them, focus should also be on improving human development and sustainable development goals.

    ​ALSO READ | ‘Climate of fear’: India slams Pakistan over vandalisation of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s statue in Lahore

    “As a nation, we have undertaken various national campaigns recently which mirror our focus on sustainable development goals (SDGs), be it Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission or Skill India, our programmes aim to do just that,” the minister said.

    The minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has taken a multi-dimensional approach to all pillars of sustainable development with key measures like climate action, biodiversity conservation, forestry and land neutrality, waste recycling, phasing out single-use plastic, organic farming and clean energy.

    He said that India is on track to achieve an exceeded target under the Paris Agreement to combat climate change.

    India is the only G20 nation on track to meet its climate commitments, and the country has achieved 24 per cent deduction in emission intensity of its GDP between 2005 and 2016, thereby achieving a pre-2020 voluntary target, Yadav said.

    “India is among the top five countries of the world in terms of installed renewable energy capacities. India’s non-fossil fuel-based installed capacity of 151 GW is 39 per cent of the total installed capacity,” he said.

    The aspirational target of renewable energy capacity of 450 GW by 2030 was announced by the prime minister.

    ​READ OPINION | Climate code red: India must go vocal and local

    The minister also referred to the PM’s Independence Day speech in which he announced the National Hydrogen Mission for generation and export of green hydrogen.

    The environment minister highlighted that India’s total forest and tree cover, as reported in the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2019, is 8,07,276 square km which is 24.56 per cent of the total geographical area of the country.

    “Total carbon stock in India’s forest is estimated to be 7,124.6 million tonnes, showing an increase of 42.6 million tonnes compared to the previous assessment of 2017,” he said.

    The minister also said that India is one of the 16 member countries of the electric vehicle initiative, a multi government policy forum for accelerating the introduction and adoption of electric vehicles worldwide.

    He also said that ethanol blending in India has increased from 1.5 per cent in 2014 to 8.5 at present.

    In 2013-14, about 38 crore litres of ethanol was purchased in the country which has now grown to more than 320 crore litres, the minister said.

    “The government of India has resolved to meet the target of 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol by 2025 which was earlier to be achieved by 2030,” Yadav said.

    Informing about the smart cities mission, he said that in a first-of-its-kind initiative, Climate Smart City Assessment Framework 2019 has been launched with the intent to provide a clear roadmap for cities and urban India towards combating climate change through mitigation and adaptation measures.

    He also noted the recent report by the IPCC, saying the findings reaffirm that historic cumulative emissions are the source of the current climate crisis.

    “The recent IPCC report has sounded Code Red. The findings reaffirm that the historic cumulative emission is the source of the current climate crisis. Equitable carbon and development space to achieve sustainable development requires due consideration to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities,” he said.

    The annual lecture series was initiated by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in 2002 in memory of the institute’s visionary founder and noted technocrat-industrialist, Darbari S Seth.

  • Compromise with Parliament’s dignity unacceptable: Union Labour Minister Bhupendra Yadav

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Union Labour Minister Bhupendra Yadav on Saturday said it is the right of the Opposition to protest over issues in Parliament but compromise with the dignity of the House is unacceptable. Yadav said this referring to the washing out of the monsoon session of Parliament.

    Among other issues, the Pegasus snooping controversy and farm laws had led to repeated disruptions in both Houses of Parliament.

    Commenting on it after completing his 620-km-long “Jan Ashirwad Yatra” carried out in seven Lok Sabha constituencies of Haryana and Rajasthan, Yadav said Parliament is run through dialogue and in a dignified manner. “It is the right of the Opposition to protest against any issue but it doesn’t have the right to take Parliament’s dignity in its hands,” Yadav told reporters in Ajmer.

    Protest and disruptions are understandable but not pandemonium, the minister added. He said in the recent Parliament session, the Opposition did not let the prime minister introduce members of his new cabinet. The Opposition disrupts proceedings of the House whenever it likes, he alleged.

    He said Opposition members throwing rule book at the Chair in the Rajya Sabha during a discussion was unfortunate. Talking about the “Jan Ashirwad Yatra”, Yadav said he held 75 meetings and seven big rallies. He exuded confidence that the BJP will form the next government in Rajasthan.

    The Congress government has completed two-and-a-half years in the state. Replying to a question on the protest against Centre’s agricultural laws, he said, “I want to clarify that these laws do not abolish the Agricultural Produce Market Committee in any manner. It provides an arrangement that if the city is overcrowded then another way should be given through a bypass. The laws have given a way to farmers to do more business.”

    He alleged that the protest is taking place to mislead people. “Even during the farmers’ agitation, the maximum produce has been procured through the mandi system in Punjab. The Congress should see this figure,” he said.

  • Message of CM face from ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’ of Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: The ‘Jan Aashirwad Yatra’ by Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav has heated up the internal politics of the Rajasthan BJP. 

    Although Vasundhara Raje has been included in the posters for the yatra, she and her entire faction continue to remain missing from action. In contrast, the anti-Vasundhara lobby is being seen prominently in promoting the yatra. This has set off strong speculation that Yadav is now trying to establish himself as a potential CM face in the state. 

    Interestingly, a former MLA from the anti-Vasundhara lobby has advised Raje to move to the central stage and allow a new leader to emerge as BJP’s CM face for the next elections in Rajasthan. 

    On the second day of his Yatra on Friday, Yadav entered Ajmer district where he was greeted with much enthusiasm. Yadav, who was recently inducted into the Modi cabinet, had studied in Ajmer and still has strong links in the district.

    Making scathing attacks on the Congress government in the state, Yadav asked party workers to work with a commitment to form a BJP government in 2003 with a three-fourth majority. “We could not form the government in Rajasthan 2018. We lost with a narrow margin but it caused a huge loss to the people of Rajasthan. But now people are ready to vote out the Congress party.” 

    ALSO READ | Rajasthan Cabinet reshuffle on hold as CM Gehlot rejects Pilot camp’s demand of six berths

    The mission of the three-day Yatra is the Assembly elections in 2023 but with Bhupendra Yadav becoming the face rather than other MPs such as Gajendra Shekhawat or Arjun Ram Meghwal, questions are being asked whether the party wants to position him as a new CM face of the party in the state. 

    Yadav who is considered close to Home Minister Amit Shah and PM Narendra Modi, is also a major strategist of the party. BJP sources said that Bhupendra Yadav’s Yatra carries a deeper political statement. While on the surface it does not appear to be so, political circles in the desert state have suddenly started resonating with the show of power that is coming out as a result of this Yatra. While hordes of people gathered to welcome Yadav during the yatra, senior leaders of the party too were seen welcoming him. Besides, many MPs and MLAs along with stalwarts such as Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Satish Poonia, Rajendra Rathore, and Gulab Chand Kataria are seen to be very active during the Yatra. 

    Except for Raje loyalists, all the major BJP leaders are being seen in this Yatra. While Raje, a two-time CM, has been established as the face of the party in the state, the BJP’s central leadership has tried to sideline her for the past two years.

    After he was made a Union Minister, Bhupendra Yadav has emerged as a possible CM face for the BJP. With the party choosing him to be face of the ‘Jan Aashirwad Yatra’, many in the BJP say the party is now trying to promote him. However, Yadav himself has denied that he is a CM contender. “I am not a claimant to the CM post. These speculations are baseless. There are many leaders in the state BJP from whom I still learn even today,” said Yadav 

    Interestingly, a former BJP MLA from Alwar district, Gyandev Ahuja has made some important comments about Vasundhara Raje’s future. He said: “Raje has been the Chief Minister of Rajasthan twice. Now she should leave the state of her own will and go to the Centre. Raje should give chance to other people in the state by becoming a minister at the Centre and should work under the national leadership.” 

    Besides Vasundhara Raje, the Rajasthan BJP already has several leaders who are keen to become the CM face. Among them are Union Ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Arjun Meghwal, former Union minister Rajyavardhan Singh, current BJP state chief Satish Poonia and the current Leader of the Opposition in Rajasthan Assembly, Gulab Chand Kataria. While the ultimate decision will be made in 2023, the ‘Jan Aashirwad Yatra’ has certainly made Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav as a potential CM face for Rajasthan.

  • Vasundhara Raje back on BJP posters as party moves to patch up rift in Rajasthan unit

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: The ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’ of the BJP in Rajasthan seems to have become a means to patch up the rift in the party’s state unit.

    As Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav set off on his three-day yatra from Alwar’s Bhiwadi town on Wednesday, it was interesting to see that the posters this time also included former CM Vasundhara Raje. She was dropped from all posters at the BJP headquarters in Jaipur two months ago. 

    This is being seen as an attempt to pacify Raje loyalists who are planning their own yatra in the state from next month. Last week, Raje said that she is more interested in living in people’s hearts than being seen on posters. 

    Significantly, in the poster of ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’, Vasundhara Raje has been put up along with PM Narendra Modi, National President JP Nadda, BJP in-charge for Rajasthan, Arun Singh, and Union Ministers Bhupendra Yadav, Gajendra Shekhawat, Arjun Meghwal, and Kailash Chaudhary. In addition, state BJP president Satish Poonia and Leader of Opposition Gulabchand Kataria are also seen on this poster. The poster has been put up even on the social media outlets of the Rajasthan BJP. 

    In Rajasthan, ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’ will cover a distance of 417 km in three days. In this period, Yadav and BJP leaders will interact with the people of the state at 40 places and review the schemes of the central government in order to strengthen the party’s connection with people at the grassroots. 

    Politically, however, it is the poster of ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’ that is being most talked about given the controversies over posters for the past few months. Pictures of Vasundhara Raje were removed from posters and banners outside the state party headquarters in June which angered the former CM’s followers. But now that Raje is back in state BJP’s posters, it is being widely speculated that the yatra may well become a truce-maker between the two major camps in Rajasthan BJP – one led by state party chief Satish Poonia and the other by former CM Raje. 

    Although Raje remained quiet for several weeks, her followers openly spoke against the party leadership in the state and last month. One of her loyalists, Rohitashv Sharma, was also expelled from the party for six years. A week ago, Raje hit back at the poster row for the first time and said, “I don’t believe in the politics of posters but want to live in the hearts of the people.” 

    BJP sources say the party’s central leadership is keeping its eyes on Rajasthan and sending teams to review and monitor the situation. While a few party veterans have already toured the state, Bhupender Yadav is now trying to balance the equations in the state BJP. 

  • Bihar cabinet expansion: BJP demands key portfolio for Shahanwaz Hussian

    Express News Service
    PATNA:  The Bihar BJP in-charge Bhupendra Yadav’s presence in Patna on Wednesday has once again raised hopes that the cabinet expansion might happen soon along with the finalisation of nominations to the state Legislative Council.

    The cabinet expansion is likely to see some fresh faces to maintain the social equation

    According to sources, the BJP has demanded the finance or home portfolio for MLC and senior leader Shahanwaz Hussian.

    At present, the education ministry is held by JD (U) leader Ashok K Choudhary.  Sources said the BJP wants the education ministry in order to make changes to the curriculum.

    Recently, the BJP had sent a list of MLAs to be sworn in as ministers in the next cabinet expansion. Objections’ were reportedly raised by the JD (U) over certain names in the list.

    CM Nitish Kumar had also recently expressed his annoyance over the delay in cabinet expansion saying that it was the first time in the NDA that delay to such an extent was being made in cabinet expansions.

  • Now, JD(U) predicts split in RJD after January 14

    Express News Service
    PATNA: The claim of BJP in-charge of Bihar Bhupendra Yadav on Sunday that there would be a major desertion of MLAs from the opposition RJD in the coming weeks has raised the political heat in the state. Interestingly, BJP’s ally JDU reiterated the claim on Monday.

    Supporting Bhupendra Yadav’s claim, Munger MP and JD(U) leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh said the “break-up of RJD can’t be prevented”. “Whenever Bhupendra Yadav ji wants, the RJD will merge with the BJP. His prediction about a break-up in the RJD after Kharmas (January 14) can’t be taken lightly,” he said. Taking up any works before Kharmas is believed to be inauspicious by many.

    JDU national spokesperson and a close aide of Nitish Kumar, KC Tyagi, also aired the same view. Bhupendra Yadav on Sunday said the RJD would break-up after Kharmas. “We will be silent till Kharmas. After that, the RJD will break-up. If you can save the party, save it,” he challenged the RJP leadership. The RJD has reacted sharply to the claim. The party said it was the NDA that would break-up after January 14. “NDA is going to face desertions after the Kharmas,”said RJD Spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwari.

    It was only two weeks ago the RJD leadership had claimed that the Nitish-led government would fall as reports surfaced about the friction in the NDA over JDU lawmakers switching allegiance to the BJP in Arunachal Pradesh. Also, RJD leader Shyam Rajak had claimed that 17 MLAs of the JD(U) were in touch with the RJD and that more would cross over very soon.