It is high time that people with divergent views on GM crops sat across the table with representatives of government ministries and members of Parliament to debate which kind of GM technology, if any, would be in the interest of India’s farmers and consumers. So that when a technology goes wrong, the technology provider is legally liable to make good the losses. It is only a limited approach to controlling one pest that is programmed to fail in a country like India where pests are of many different kinds and usually intense in their infestations.Both the Bt cotton episode and NDDB’s decision on GM mustard illuminate the problems inherent in radical new technologies like genetic engineering. Countries do this by enacting laws governing liability and redress.

Not so long ago we had the whitefly attack on the Bt cotton crop in Punjab and Haryana causing devastating losses to farmers.The NDDB board probably realised that linking GM mustard with all its controversies to one of their more successful products, cold pressed natural mustard oil, was like shooting themselves in the foot. On the other hand, "tainted" with the GM label, many consumers were likely to back off, affected by the awareness that GM products could be unsafe.Against this backdrop, an effective advocacy campaign by activists succeeded in showing the NDDB that supporting research on GM mustard and hence linking it with their popular Dhara brand of mustard oil could put a question mark on the latter’s market acceptance.The large scale failure of Bt cotton showed us that Bt technology is not what it is made out to be, a panacea for pest control. In addition to this, the refusal of technology regulators to be transparent and share information with the public has led to increasing distrust of GM technology and a greater likelihood of the public contesting its adoption. They point out yet again that technology does not exist in a vacuum, that whereas biosafety is a key issue, it remains difficult to resolve. Here it is not a case of whether the science is clean or not, it could be either. Why would it want to hang an albatross around the neck of a product that was flying off the shelves anyway What advantage could GM mustard possibly bring the NDDB or the consumer It would not be cheaper, it would not be more nutritious or have better keeping qualities and it would look the same as the natural mustard oil. So it disassociated itself from research on GM mustard and discontinued its support. Apart from the failure of Bt technology to do what it claims to do, that is control pests, the recent Bt cotton failure reveals another fault line. The NDDB seems to have realised that it made absolutely no sense to martyr the Dhara brand.For too long policymakers related to agriculture and food have insisted on hearing just one voice, that of the providers of GM technology and the scientists who have blindly pushed for it as the answer to all of India’s agriculture problems. Perhaps activists have sometimes been more shrill than necessary, but they have always attempted to highlight public concerns. How will liability be fixed for the failure Who is going to be held responsible for the massive losses incurred by the farmers in Punjab and Haryana Under which law will you hold the technology providers, Monsanto in this case and their partner seed companies, liable for the damage caused by a failed technology Gene Campaign has been pointing out the need for a national law on liability and redress ever since GM technology became the favourite of government agencies.

According to a report by Kumar Sambhav Shrivastava, the NDDB has already spent Rs 50 crore on research for developing GM mustard, but is now withdrawing from the project. It is irresponsible and unethical to expose farmers to new technologies without ensuring that they are adequately protected in case the technology fails. Now we have the chairman of the board of directors at the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) conveying China GRS certificate fabric ribbon Suppliers NDDB’s decision not to support the development of GM mustard any further.Owing to the last few years of discussion on the pros and cons of GM technology, and the hotly debated question of the safety of GM foods, there is far greater consumer awareness about the issue now than there was a few years ago.

The writer, a genetic scientist who has served on the faculty of the universities of Chicago and Heidelberg, is convenor of the Gene Campaign.Gene Campaign has also constantly underlined the fact that adopting a radical new technology (which scientists acknowledge has built-in dangers), without a foolproof legal framework within which the technology should be considered for adoption, was foolhardy and dangerous.In the case of the NDDB withdrawing support for Deepak Pental’s GM mustard, there is a clear realisation on the part of NDDB that adopting a technology has social and economic implications. But apart from the vexed issue of biosafety, which is increasingly better understood even if not always complied with, is the demonstration that there are social and economic aspects to such technologies apart from the scientific ones. The NDDB gains nothing from getting linked to the GM brand, it could lose a lot. And scientists in public sector research institutions began to sing in chorus with policymakers who couldn’t wait to make Monsanto happy by aggressively promoting Bt technology. Monsanto owns the Bt gene and anyone who wants to use it has to pay licence fees to Monsanto. There is sufficient mustard being produced in the country and the NDDB is selling its mustard oil very successfully. The NDDB needs GM mustard like it needs a hole in the head. The question here is whether tagging the GM label is going to benefit NDDB’s product line or hurt it.Recent developments in the saga of genetically modified (GM) crops have begun to reveal the fault lines of this technology.

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Amidst several iconic looks, two of her appearances surpassed all others. The layers of ruffles extended to the long train.Huma sizzled on the red carpet in a Gaurav Gupta gown. (Photo: Instagram @team_kangana_ranaut)She wowed in a dreamy gown by Michael Cinco. She looked the epitome of elegance in her soft/dramatic combination look. She paired it with matching jewels by Chopard. It had a voluminous train and plunging neckline. It had long sleeves and was cinched at the waist with satin ribbon. She accessorised wholesale ribbon manufacturers with diamond hoop earrings and several bracelets. The long flowy skirt was in a ballgown style and had several layers giving it volume. She paired the look with David Morris earrings and ring set.Deepika slays in dramatic eye make-up and Peter Dundas gown. The lavender and pink gown was fitted at the bodice and flared into mermaid silhouette and ended in a long train.She wowed in a dreamy gown by Michael Cinco.

The outfit’s eccentric element was the purple velvet gloves paired with a traditional Indian look. (Photo: AP/Joel C Ryan/Invision)After a series of outfit changes in a week, including an edgy Off White dress and a sheer Philosophy top and a floral number by Erdem, Deepika wore her most iconic red carpet look yet. (Photo: Instagram @iamhumaq)The following day on the red carpet, Huma delivered one of her best red carpet outfits yet. The normal blouse was eschewed by a corset-style blouse crafted by Falguni and Shane Peacock. The silver couture dress by Gaurav Gupta was the perfect mix of edgy and classy.Huma Qureshi worked up old Hollywood glam in this dress. It was teamed with blue stoned Chopard earrings that contrasted the outfit. Deepika Padukone, known for her bold and edgy looks yet again served up some dramatic and classic looks. The gown was covered in structured waves. (Photo: Instagram @team_kangana_ranaut)Huma Qureshi worked up old Hollywood glam in this dress. (Photo: Instagram @team_kangana_ranaut)After a series of edgy and modern outfits, Kangana opted for a romantic, long-trained gown by Michael Cinco. Her black Mae Paris gown made a statement on the red carpet. She kept her make-up minimal and wore a nude lipstick. (Photo: AP/Joel C Ryan/Invision)Deepika wore her most edgiest look yet. (Photo: AP/Joel C Ryan/Invision)Kangana beautifully teamed up Indian and western.Kangana beautifully teamed up Indian and western. Her hair was beautifully styled with faux-fringes and delicate tendrils falling on her shoulder.

While several Bollywood folks made their debut this year, several red carpet regulars also walked the prestigious carpet at Cannes. It had a bustier top with dramatic ruffled sleeves. The lime-green dress by Giambattista Valli stole the show. The hair and make-up gave her a classical and romantic look. Kangana Ranaut and Huma Qureshi appeared at their second year at Cannes in dazzling and edgy looks. For her first appearance, she donned a kanjeevaram saree by Madhurya Creations.  Deepika wore her most edgiest look yet. (Photo: Instagram @iamhumaq)Deepika slays in dramatic eye make-up and Peter Dundas gown. She added an eccentric twist to the look by pairing it up with a blush pink turban-like headpiece. Braided hair style and fresh make up complemented the look perfectly. (Photo: Instagram @team_kangana_ranaut)Huma QureshiHuma Qureshi served up several unique looks on the red carpet, including a blazer and skirt combination and a blazer dress a-la Meghan Markle. The most dramatic element of her look was the bold, elongated eye-lines on the bottom lash line.

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Wars have always been waged on nations, on people, and its concern is the latest target — India’s urban poor, specifically the slum-dwelling people of Dharavi, in Mumbai.He also speaks of patriots and anti-national elements.Mostly, these days, they are not.While Rajini Sir is always poised for action and drama, and we treat his screen outings as occasions to genuflect to his power and bask in the glory of his ishtyle, problem is that these days directors are his gurgling fans too..Because Rajini Sir is always cast as some of avatar of some God, his allegiance to people is always greater than his love for own blood.They seem to think that handing him dialogue, or a scene in which he has to act, would be considered so rude that the skies will open their third eye and make bhasam of them with one sharp laser ray. So they treat the superstar as a reverential, almost mystical presence who must not be disturbed, bothered or touched too much.First, there’s a pause in the credits before light bulbs come on, one by one, forming the words SUPERSTAR, and wedged in between these two words appears, just, Rajini. His moral compass is always pointing at the bad guys. He does so at great personal cost, often.

They talk over each to reinforce the importance of Kaala, the strong bonds he shares with them, the rules he lives by, while always keeping the patriarchal set up intact.But these are flaws that make the delightfully middlebrow but magical world in which Rajini Sir exists.These days it’s interesting to read film and figure which side of the political divide they lie. There is no illicit trade, no underworld connections, of course.His Hari is unlike the loud and voluble characters he usually plays.So he stands up against his own son, and Zarina (Huma Qureshi) who arrives with much fanfare, talking of tenders, architects, ghar-ghar mein toilet.There are garrulous people who are constantly speaking of Kaala as a creature of mystical, physical and mental powers.There’s a deliberate tawdry touch to Ranjith’s direction in scenes with the immediate and the larger family. It’s a proud declaration that we are about to witness a phenomenon, so, kindly, mind it, and brace yourself.Kaala, who lives with his wife Selvie (Eswari Rao), sons Selvam (Dilpeean), Lenin (Manikandan) and their families, isn’t just sharp and fearless, but puts the interest of Dharavi above all bonds — familial, romantic or whatever.

Then his film too would have been like an unstoppable missile.Though the film makes him fight several long battles, it doesn’t give him any weapons because Rajini Sir is a weapon unto himself. Power, it says, has always belonged to the one who has owned zameen. There are some modern dashes to the world they knit around the messiah, but he’s the one who hears the wail of a mother as a clarion call to rise and destroy.Thus, films that have the privilege of having him in their midst can only be judged on one scale — are they worthy of his divine presence, or not. RanjithRajini Sir’s films must not be watched with the critical eye that other films require.That’s not an announcement about an actor starring in a film.He fights goons with an umbrella, and when he punches one man, the force of that punch turns that man into a missile who destroys his own three men.It’s possible, I tell you. But Kaala has always thwarted his efforts.Kaala, in a black linen kurta and dhoti, is a benign mixture of real-life dons Haji Mastan and Varadarajan Mudaliar inasmuch as he loves the people of Dharavi and the people of Dharavi love him. Thus, reducing him to a prized guest for whom a gargantuan, thrilling and long carnival has been organised to which he has been invited for ribbon-cutting.Whatever may be Rajini Sir’s personal politics, his film believes in the Hindu-Muslim bhai-bhai credo and paints tilak-wearing, parochial politicians saffron.In its sweeping introduction, Kaala, through comic book illustrations, tells the story of the yudh that man has always fought over zameen. This was the code in Stone Age and still is.

The words used to clear land of the squatting millions are usually the same — swachchhta, gandagi and clean development…Dharavi, which has a very high concentration of Tamil population, and is a multi-religious, multi-ethnic shanty town, exists peacefully under the firm sharp eye but generous spirit of Karikaalan Kaala (Rajinikanth).But then, Hari decides to use her, and the old, bloody enmity returns. Also, like Mudaliar, Kaala was born to a union leader who was killed. That fear will stalk you long after the film is over.The film builds up Nana Patekar’s arrival, and gives him a meaty role that he digs his teeth into with the joy of an actor finally finding that he’s up against a worthy opponent. After that he is simply required to walk through it smiling, at times folding hands to the surging hordes being held back, getting on to the stage for a bit to show his two-three cool moves, talk to this one here, take a group photo there…Despite some stunning fight sequences shot by cinematographer Murali G and the climatic riot of colours that is mesmerising and intriguing in its choreography, Kaala falls short as the vessel that gets to hold the magical superhero Rajini Sir for this season.Kaala is just a moral force who protects his people, their livelihoods and the right to their land from any evil roving eyes, but especially those of politician Haridev Abhyankar (Nana Patekar), the head of Navbharat Rashtra Party.Hari, along with his key henchman Vishnu Bhai (Sampath Raj), and obliging cop, Patil (Pankaj Tripathi) has repeatedly organised bhoomi poojans for some big, powerful builders project, with all the approvals, court orders for eviction and bulldozers.I just wish that Ranjith had given some real scenes with dialogue to Rajini Sir.

The film tells us how the land mafia, politicians and administration are continually conspiring to throw out the "ugly menace" of shanty towns and in their place have gated luxury resorts devoted to servicing people living in glitzy, tall buildings.Rating: Cast: Rajinikanth, Nana Patekar, Eswari Rao, Huma Qureshi, Anjali Patil, Sampath Raj, Pankaj TripathiDirector: Pa.A lion roars from the posters of Hari, and his talk of a clean, pure, swachchh city is a cover for his power-grabbing agenda.When Rajini Sir arrives, it’s as if the screen itself folds from both ends to bend down in a respectful namaskaram.Often there’s no logic to scenes — dance sequences are bunged in at random — or to the casting of Huma Qureshi, 31, opposite Rajinikanth, 67, though the film tries to address this age gap.The development project this former resident of Dharavi is pushing is more like a subtle eviction order, and though Kaala and Zarina have some past history that lingers, he doesn’t flinch once before opposing her as well.

Though the two-three whistle-worthy dialogues and antics of Rajini Sir captured in loving slomo — including a lungi-shifting, thigh-flashing moment before he does mother-father of all bad guys — the highs are too few and not thrilling enough.So their films are built around him, not with him. Ranjith, along with the screenplay writers, puts Rajini Sir at the centre of two cozy worlds — the first is his own close-knit family, and then there’s the larger family of the blessed meek of Dharavi. If you do that, you’ve completely missed the whole bloody point of a man whose name in the opening credits doesn’t simply appear as "Rajinikanth".Director Pa. He plays Hari with long, silent glances and scary stillness.But the menacing goon-turned-politician, who ribbons manufacturers often says, with an entitled evil cackle, "I was born to rule", won’t give up.

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The seat had fallen vacant after the death of BJP MP Vinod Khanna in April this year. It will be demoralising and send them (SAD-BJP) packing," he added. The actor had won this seat in 1998, 1999, 2004 and 2014. "This is a victory for the Congress and China label cloth Ribbon Manufacturers Capt Amarinder Singh," he said. "With this victory, people have reaffirmed faith in the leadership of Amarinder Singh," said Jakhar. Aam Aadmi Party nominee Khajuria was at the third sport with 23,579 votes.Chandigarh: Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar on Sunday won the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha byelection by beating his nearest BJP rival Swaran Salaria with a huge margin of 1,93,219 votes, while Aam Aadmi Party candidate Major General (retd) Suresh Khajuria finished a distant third. Time and again people have reprimanded them. Congratulating Mr Jakhar, the Punjab chief minister said it is a victory for the development agenda.

State cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said, "We have sent a beautiful Diwali gift packed with red ribbon to our would-be President Rahul Gandhi because it sets the tone." "Today the BJP will realise that Akali Dal in Punjab has become a burden. Punjab BJP secretary Vineet Joshi alleged that the Congress misused the official machinery in the bypoll. Both the BJP and the AAP accused the Congress of misusing official machinery to win the bypoll. After the trends suggesting massive lead for Congress, party workers assembled at the party office in Chandigarh and started distributing sweets and danced.. AAP candidate Khajuria also accused the Congress of using "undemocratic means" in the bypoll elections.It will be a shot in the arm for the Congress. Mr Jakhar polled 4,99,752 votes while Salaria polled 3,06,553, a poll official said... After victory, Sunil Jakhar thanked voters for the resounding victory in the bypoll. Mr Khanna was four-time MP from the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat.

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