Meeting of WTO with Indian Govt. in clandestine manner.
A meeting of WTO and Indian govt is held at Maurya Sheraton hotel on 12th of March 14, 2007
Keeping in mind the clandestine nature of talks the government of India has initiated with the WTO officials, one is not left with any space to contest or debate the polices that are formulated in this ostensibly democratic space. This, is in the face of a situation where, the toll of farmers committing suicide is only multiplying with two farmers committing suicide every eight hours in only Vidarbha alone.
Even the budget 2007 has chosen not to acknowledge the fat that there is paucity of any affirmative action in the direction of this deplorable phenomenon. Basic relief has not been able to reach the suicide hot spots. The recent controversy in Maharashtra being a case in point. With no other option left with those who choose to show their dissent, i defend the cause of the voiceless millions. Our farmers whose fate is to be sealed with the strike of a pen in an air conditioned conference hall of a Five Star hotel; and by people who have absolutely no idea about the condition in which Indian farmer is languishing today. With this in mind, I put forth few simple questions before our ‘representative’ in parliament –
>> When the Doha round of talks failed as a platform, why are any talk on the same ground happening in India?
>> Why is agriculture, which is sustained by 70% of our population (not to forget India is a Farmers’ country), being discussed in such a clandestine manner?
>> On what basis have representatives of civil society and agriculture been chosen for discussion on the platform?
‘This kind of behavior only goes to show that the space for debate has absolutely died in our democracy’
We should think over such issues twice.
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