People's Democracy

Our Fight Compelled Govt To Accept Amendments: Left

THE Left parties – CPI(M), CPI, Forward Bloc and RSP – stated that it was the stiff fight put up by them, both within and outside parliament, that compelled the government to accept 10 of the 12 amendments demanded by the Left to the Patent (Third) Amendment Bill. At the same time they qualified this achievement as a “small battle won” and resolved to carry on the larger fight to overturn the TRIPS agreement and bring it out of the WTO.

This was stated by CPI(M) Polit Bureau member, Prakash Karat at a press conference at CPI(M) headquarters on March 23. It was jointly addressed by CPI secretary D Raja and Forward Bloc general secretary, Debabrata Biswas. CPI(M) chief whip in Lok Sabha and one who conducted negotiations with the government regarding the amendments, Rupchand Pal was also present.

Prakash Karat expressed satisfaction at the outcome, particularly in view of the situation where the BJP had begun this disastrous course and the Congress-led UPA wanted to continue in the same path. “With two major political forces of the country set on this course, the Left strategy has been to ensure these amendments are put in place in the interest of the people. We have utilised our strength in parliament to achieve this. The pressure put up by various organisations outside parliament also played a role”, said Karat. He underlined that unless this was done our national interests could not have been taken care of in full measure as the TRIPs agreement itself placed severe limitations on our ability to enact national legislations that address public interest. He said the Left continues to have differences with the government as two of its amendments were not accepted. “We wanted micro-organisms excluded from the scope of patentability and a specific definition of new entities,” he said. The government responded with an assurance in parliament that an expert committee would be set up to look into the matter and make recommendations, added Karat.

Refuting BJP allegations that the Left parties had entered into a secret deal, Karat pointed out how the BJP maintained complete silence until a week ago when it asked that the Bill be referred to a select committee. ““We know how the BJP during the NDA regime at the standing committee disregarded the genuine objections of the Left parties and incoroprated anti-national clause in the Bill. That is why we were keen this time to ensure that there is no gang-up of vested interests and put forth our amendments directly to the government”, he said.

Reiterating the total opposition of the Left to the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill, 2005, Karat said it seeks to privatise pension funds, the fallout of which would be disastrous to employees. He said the government had been told that there is no possibility of negotiations on this issue as the Left is totally opposed to the Bill and would vote against it. Karat referred to the bitter experience of opening up pension funds to foreign multi-national companies and for investment in equity in countries like Peru and even US.

Now since the Bill has been referred to a standing committee, the Left would discuss with the trade unions on how to resist this measure, he said.

(INN)