He’s stubbed out offending smokers and thrown cold water on the spirits of those who like a drop or two. At what windmill will our intrepid Minister for Health, Anbumani Ramadoss, tilt at next is the question on everyone’s lips. The answer is that he has taken on the baingan. Yes, the humble brinjal has aroused the minister’s ire. As also varieties of rice, tomatoes, okra, potatoes and sugarcane to name a few. No, it’s not that the Minister doesn’t like veggies, it’s just that genetically modified (GM) ones get his goat. So, in case anyone had any hopes that GM brinjal would be floating around in their sambar any time soon, perish the thought. Now we realise that we are in grave peril from GM crops.
But we would still like to take a chance. After all, despite the minister’s best efforts we have survived pesticide-laden water, vegetables and fruits, adulterated milk and industrial cooking oil. Surely, a faulty gene here and there won’t do us in.
Come elections, and we might see the Minister racing around parts of the country where people get one square meal every week exhorting them to shun Bt brinjal. That’ll send out the message that he really knows his onions. So while the minister is having a field day pursuing fruits and vegetables, let us drink to our health with ethically grown, organic soya milk. But be sure, every sip you take, he’ll be watching you.