UNION GOVERNMENT on Tuesday put on freeze a proposal to introduce genetically modified brinjals in the country saying that there was no urgency to do so as well as cited lack of consensus on the issue in the scientific community. The Bt Brinjal, which has been in the thick of controversy was however cleared three months ago by Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC).

Environment minister Jairam Ramesh, while putting an indefinite moratorium on the entry of Bt Brinjal questioned the need of letting private companies to take control of biotechnology research in agriculture. Bt Brinjal has been developed by Monsanto, a multinational in collaboration with two Indian agricultural universities.