On the 142nd birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, noted agricultural scientist M S Swaminathan told that the proposed Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India bill is against the spirit of Gandhi and decentralised governance. “[... ]Unlike the National Biodiversity Act, the Brai bill does not consult with people at the panchayat level,” said Swaminathan who proposed in 2003 the idea of an autonomous and professionally led body for assessing the safety of genetically modified crops. “There is also a case of conflict of interest. The regulator of genetically modified food cannot be under Brai. For example, the atomic energy regulatory board cannot function under the department of atomic energy,” he added.