Modi evades queries on Bt brinjal,liquor ban

Sources said a member of the team asked Modi about making the environment conducive for the expatriate community to work in the state,hinting at exploring the possibility of lifting the liquor ban. Modi,the sources said,brushed aside the question.

When the American representative persisted,Modi reportedly said: “Hum is ke bare kuch karne ki avastha me nahi hain (we are not in a position to do anything about this).” Officials from around 10 companies including Coca Cola,GE,PWC,KPMG and others were present. Monsanto,which is not the member of AMCHAM-India,was also invited for the meeting. An official from Monsanto raised the issue of introducing Bt Brinjal and other products in the local market,and Modi reportedly evaded the question,saying: “Pura Bharat daba hua hai Bt ke niche… aap hum ko kahaan le kar jana chahte hain? (The entire country is silent on the Bt issue…where do you want to take us?)”

Officials from GE (General Electric) put forward their plans to set up a nuclear power plant in the state. They were also interested in sectors such as biomass,said sources.

A business leader,who was part of the meeting,told this newspaper that the US companies had come to discuss and identify areas for synergies with the government.

Modi discussed environment technology,conservation of fuel,energy consumption,marine engineering courses and the upgrade of ITIs,with the officials.