Maharashtra: Criminal case against farmers for planting GM seeds
Akola: In a first in Maharashtra, at least 12 farmers from Akola district have been booked for allegedly sowing banned herbicide-tolerant Bt (HTBT) cotton seeds, police said Wednesday.
The farmers had allegedly planted the seeds in their farms in Adgaon and Akoli Jahangir villages as part of a protest organised by Shetkari Sanghatna against the Union government's ban on the use of genetically modified Bt (bacillus thuringiensis) cotton and brinjal seeds.
On June 10, several hundred farmers had sowed the GM cotton and brinjal seeds in the east Maharashtra district.
The Sanghatana has been opposing the ban on GM crops claiming that they gave higher yields at lower costs and brought benefits to cultivators.
Two FIRs were registered at Hiwarkhed and Akot police stations on the complaints lodged by the Agriculture department, a Hiwarkhed police station officer said Wednesday.
Among those booked by police included Sanghatna spokesperson Lalit Bahale.
"The farmers have been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Environment Protection Act and the Seeds Act," said Hiwarkhed police station inspector Somnath Pawar.
The use of GM crops in the country is tightly regulated as per "Rules for the Manufacture/Use/Import/Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms, Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells, 1989" under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
As per the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare,the evaluation of each application of GM crop is done on a case-to-case basis after a thorough examination of health, environment, food and feed safety assessment studies.
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US rules out use of nuclear weapons against Iran
Washington DC: The White House has reportedly ruled out the use of nuclear weapons against Iran, even as uncertainty continues over ongoing peace negotiations and a deadline set by US President Donald Trump approaches.
Issues bout a possible escalation had increased after US Vice President JD Vance said that the United States has “tools in our toolkit that we so far haven’t decided to use” in dealing with Iran.
His remarks came amid rising tensions and ahead of a deadline linked to peace efforts.
The situation has attracted attention as Trump warned Iran that its “whole civilization will die tonight tonight” if an agreement is not reached by Tuesday at 8 pm.
This statement led to speculation about the possibility of extreme military measures, including a nuclear strike.
Following Vance’s comments, the White House issued a clarification distancing itself from such interpretations. In a post on X, it said, "Literally nothing @VP said here 'implies' this, you absolute buffoons." In a later statement, it added that “only the president knows” what action will be taken regarding Iran.
Literally nothing @VP said here "implies" this, you absolute buffoons https://t.co/7JU3wXMaWX
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 7, 2026
