Bharatiya Krishak Samaj (BKS) has strongly objected to what it called a “fake” research by a Punjab-based university which alleges that “India’s milk contains residues of a cocktail of pesticides and therefore consumption of Indian milk involves cancer risks to children.” The research done at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Punjab, had been funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
In a letter shot off to Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, BKS president Krishan Bir Chaudhary has expressed his displeasure over what he calls the ‘fake’ study raising a false alarm that consumption of India’s milk could cause cancer among children.
“India is a land of milk, butter and ghee since the Vedic era. Milk is considered sacred and extensively used in all festivals and religious ceremonies. Therefore, it is a blasphemy to allege-based on a fake study-that consuming our milk involves risk of cancer to children,” Chaudhary said. He further added that “We suspect an unholy nexus between some scientists at this university and IDRC on account of the money power of the latter.”
He also added: “We question the propriety of Canada’s IDRC to fund such fake research studies in India aimed at lowering the image of India’s dairy sector and causing unnecessary alarm about cancer risks.”
BKS president has further said: “If this fake study is not withdrawn together with public apology by IDRC, we will be forced to organise peaceful protests in India beginning with Delhi.”