What is the CPI(M) stand on GM crops? Why can it be not utilised?Padmakumar, CochinTHE CPI(M) is all for scientific innovation which protects the best interests of people and farmers. However, the Party is firmly of the opinion that there should not be any commercial release of GM crops without ensuring safety for humans, animals and the environment. Stringent long-term bio-safety tests by a competent regulatory mechanism must establish safety for humans, animals, environment and bio-diversity of the country.

Our Party conferences at district/state/all India level elect steering committees to conduct the schedule of conferences. Once steering committees are formed the entire organisational power is vested in them till the new committees are elected. In view of this, my questions are: if steering committee concept is so important, why it does not at all find a mention in the Party Constitution? The word "steering committee" is completely absent in the Party Constitution at least in the web version. The conference discusses the report by district committee/state committee/CC as the case may be.

What is our position on hydro-power generation vis-a-vis environment protection? Kindly explain. Abdul Ashraf, Kozhikode, Kerala HYDROELECTRIC power can be from run of the river projects that have very little, or no impoundment of water, or from dams that impound a large amount of water, and then use it for generating electricity. Run of the river projects have much lower environmental impact, even though the cumulative effects of a large number of run of the river projects on the same river could create significant impact.

The CPI(M) in parliament opposed the Aadhaar Bill being declared as a money bill. Why was this so?
R Jaganathan, Chennai

THE Modi government had introduced the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill in the Lok Sabha. On the request of the government, the speaker allowed the introduction of the legislation as a money bill. As per the constitution, a money bill cannot be amended or changed by the Rajya Sabha. It can only send its recommendations to the Lok Sabha, which alone can take a final decision.

Q: In the 'Origin of Family, Private Property and the State', Engels argued that love or marital relationship between individuals must be completely their private affair and just as in primitive communism, in future communist society also, it should be possible to easily end a relationship from either side and without the interference of public courts. After the Russian revolution, Lenin said that henceforth the so-called 'legitimate' and 'illegitimate' children would be equal. In western world today, being formal partners, ie, live-in relationship has become very common.