New Delhi, Feb. 24: An escalation in the Bt brinjal controversy forced Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to rein in some of his erring colleagues and warned them to speak in one voice on the crucial issue of biotechnology, which was required to increase agricultural productivity and ensure food security.

The meeting, attended by Union ministers Sharad Pawar, Kapil Sibal, Jairam Ramesh and Prithviraj Chavan, saw agreement on the need to set up a National Biotechnology Regulatory Authority which will inspire confidence and stimulate public and private investment in biotechnology. The bill will seek to regulate the research and import of all bio-technology products.

Dr Manmohan Singh’s tacit support of Mr Ramesh in the meeting could be a reflection of Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s support of the environment minister’s stand. He had in an earlier interaction with women journalists made it clear that although he was fighting a "lonely" battle, he enjoyed the support of both Dr Manmohan Singh and "the Congress high command".

Mr Ramesh had made it clear that the PM was his only supporter in the Cabinet. "At times I feel I am fighting a lonely battle. The odds are so stacked up against anybody saying or doing the right and rational thing as far as environment and forests are concerned," Mr Ramesh said.

Clarifying that he had no "major" differences with Mr Shyam Saran, the PM’s special envoy on climate change, Mr Ramesh explained, "There might have been differences over style or perceptions, but I had no problem with him becoming a minister of state. I had nothing to do with his decision to resign. I am a political personality, he (Mr Saran) is a bureaucrat. And, ultimately, I am sure of one thing, that I have to answer questions in Parliament. So whatever I do or say, I would ultimately have to go to Parliament. That is the reality," said the minister.

Mr Ramesh also stressed that it was his job to lay down policy. "Bureaucracy cannot dictate. I am not a rubber stamp to the bureaucracy."

On whether he approached the PM with these differences, he said, "Did I tell the Prime Minister that he (Saran) had to go? No. I did not even discuss the issue with the Prime Minister."

The PM, sources pointed out, spoke up determinedly for the fast-forwarding of the NBRA and for the building of a consensus on this contentious issue, insisting all the time that all scientific issues must be placed before the GEAC. He, however, did caution restraint on the adverse effects of genetically modified foods on human and animal health as also on bio-diversity, sources said.

But the meeting is not going to see an end to controversies. Right under the PM’s nose, Mr Chavan insisted the GEAC come under the ambit of the Department of Science and Technology while Mr Ramesh was unwilling to relinquish a key pillar of his own ministry.

The PM did assure a key ally, Mr Sharad Pawar, that biotechnology would continue to receive a major push to ensure India continues to follow the path of growing higher yielding crops.

Mr Ramesh, despite the opposition, stood his ground and refused to reverse his decision on the moratorium on the commercial production of Bt brinjal. Rejecting the contention that the moratorium on genetically modified brinjal is "anti-science", he told his colleagues that the moratorium must be used to "build a consensus amongst scientists and state governments who oppose Bt brinjal".

He dismissed as "absolute bunkum" that he was on a different wicket with the PM on climate change. "If the ministry of environment and forests is responsible for climate change, then obviously the minister for environment and forests has to hold the truck, good or bad," he added.

Rashme Sehgal