On behalf of Dr. Krishan Bir Chaudhary and Arun Shrivastava

———-—————————————————————————————

Mr. Prashant Bhushan,

Senior advocate, Supreme Court of India

Aam Aadmi Party, 
Ground Floor, 
A-119, Kaushambi, 
Ghaziabad – 201010

Subject: GMOs and testing of all foods in Delhi state

Emailed letter

Dear Prashant ji,

You have been the counsel in matter of a Public Interest Litigation [PIL] number 260 of 2005 and, as such we, the undersigned, assume that you are fully aware of the dangers of Genetically Modified [GMO] seeds and foods.

In this matter you are on record with your arguments in the Supreme Court. We quote one that you made to the media: “We had argued that the field trials and commercial release of GM crops, particularly, Bt brinjal should not be done unless and until proper regulations for ensuring safety aspects are put in place.” http://www.financialexpress.com/news/sc-asks-govt-to-respond-to-safety-conerns-of-gmos/453457/0

We draw your attention to the report of the all-party Standing Committee in Parliament that unequivocally recommended to the Government that Genetically Engineered seeds and foods be banned in India. As early as 2001, all samples of food made from soy and corn from Delhi market sent to an accredited laboratory for testing of GM contamination tested positive. Food experts have identified many food products including baby food that are known to be GM contaminated. These well known brands are being sold openly in super stores and neighbourhood grocers without labelling.

Are your party and you not concerned with public health and the health of infants, growing children, women and the elderly and farmers rights to seeds? Please consider the following issues which have already been discussed and debated in the Honourable Supreme Court and the Parliament:

(a) Ban all GM seeds and foods in Delhi state,

(b) Establish a testing laboratory in Delhi to test every food being sold in the state, and

(c) Institute severe penalty for offenders for selling poisoned foods that kill.

Kerala, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Northeastern states have already banned GMOs. We expect you to kindly expedite the process within a week as part of the newly elected government.

Kind regards

Copy to:

1. Mr. A. Kejriwal, Chief Minister, Delhi state [cmdelhi@nic.in]

2. Aam Aadmi Party HQ, Ground Floor, A-119, Kaushambi, Ghaziabad – 201010

[contact@aamaadmiparty.org]