Saini’s crops came on the official radar after a group of activists informed the biotech regulator, Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), about the presence of “suspected Bt brinjal” at the farm. He charged Rs 7 per plant, which is seven times higher than for normal brinjal plants. According to Chaudhary, the activist, “a preliminary lateral flow strip test was conducted, which showed a positive result of the suspected sample being transgenic with Bt Cry1Ac”, which is a gene linked to Bt brinjal. “In addition to finding the extent of cultivation and action against entire seed/seedling supply network of illegal Bt brinjal, we also demand the destruction of all Bt brinjal plots. You are duty bound to immediately identify the supply chain of Bt brinjal being cultivated in Haryana and plug it besides destroying the extant crop.

Source: Indian Express May 16, 2019 23:31 UTC