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Basmati patent to US firm rocks Parliament

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

The issue of India losing the basmati patent in the US rocked both Houses of Parliament with the Samajwadi Party forcing an adjournment in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha chairman Krishan Kant directing the government to make a statement on the matter which is of great significance to the Indian farmers.

The SP members stalled the proceedings in the Lok Sabha over the government's inability to resist the basmati patent to Texas-based Ricetec. Members led by Akhilesh Kumar Singh trooped into the well of the House and raised slogans against the 'anti-farmers policy' of the government forcing Speaker G M C Balayogi to adjourn the House till 1400 hours.

In the Rajya Sabha, the issue was raised by member of the ruling party, Balbir Punj and the SP member Janeshwar Mishra.

However, the Congress members seized the opportunity and pressed for a statement from the government explaining the implications of the case. The chair agreed to their suggestion and directed Minister of State for Commerce Digvijay Singh to clarify the government's stand in the form of a proper statement.

When the minister of state for commerce said that the government would contest the basmati case after Parliament passes the Geographical Indications Act giving powers to the country under the WTO regime, Congress member Kapil Sibal intervened: "You don't have to wait for the enactment of the bill."

He said the government should straightaway challenge the patent to Ricetec in the US Patent Office. Nodding in agreement with Sibal, the chair reminded the minister what the Congress member was saying.

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