People's Democracy

JAC Appeal To MPs: Defeat Patents Amendment

THE Joint Action Committee against amendment of Indian Patents Act has appealed to all Members of Parliament to seriously consider the ramifications of the amendment and join the struggle to defeat the amendment when it comes up for Parliament’s approval.

This was stated by the leaders of the JAC at a press conference held on January 3 at the CITU headquarters. Among those who were present included M K Pandhe CITU president, S R Pillai, AIKS president, P K Ganguly, CITU secretary, S P Shukla, former member, planning commission, Dr Vandana Shiva, Research Foundation for Science, Technology And Ecology, B K Keyala, National Working Group on Patents, and Dinesh Abrol, All India Peoples Science Network.

The JAC has also chalked out an action programme against the amendment, which includes a protest demonstration in Delhi on January 5.

In the press statement released by the JAC, it has charged that the recent ordinance has only reinforced the tilt in favour of the MNC’s exhibited by the previous NDA government. "The ordinance fails to address most of the issue mentioned above and our concerns in the core areas remain. It is a matter of deep concern that the response of the Government shows little awareness of the basic public interest issues involved. It seems to be following the line of the previous NDA government without any fresh thinking or reservation, whatsoever. It has remained oblivious of the sea change that today characterizes the world opinion in regard to the unequal global regime of TRIPs" it stated.

Reiterating its resolve to oppose the Third Amendment Ordinance, the JAC appealed to all right thinking sections of our people, the working class and the intellectuals in particular, to come forward to join the protest actions against the non-transparent and anti-people stance adopted by the government.

The following action programme was announced in the press conference: