M A I N   N E W S

Rajya Sabha passes Patent Bill
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 9
The landmark Patent Bill was today passed by the Rajya Sabha after incorporating safeguards to protect national interest and without yielding concessions on public health.

The Patent Bill will make India fall in line with the WTO-administered Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) regime even as it ensures easy availability of drugs at affordable prices.

The Patent Second Amendment Bill, 1999, was approved by a voice vote after a five-hour debate on the crucial issue. The CPM sponsored amendments were defeated by 83 to 21 votes.

The safeguards recommended by the Joint Parliamentary Committee were incorporated by way of government amendments in the much-delayed Bill, which was passed after negating amendments moved by CPM member Biplap Dasgupta.

In his reply, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Murasoli Maran allayed fears that the Bill would introduce product patent.

He said introduction of the product patent regime for drugs, pharmaceuticals and agro-chemicals was not contemplated in the present Bill. India was not obliged to provide product patent until January 1, 2005, and a separate legislation would be necessary at an appropriate time, he said.

He said the government would have enough powers to resist the influence of multi-national companies and check the prices of essential drugs.

Maintaining that the Bill did not dilute or compromise any of the earlier provisions or national interests, Mr Maran said the Bill provided a powerful weapon to the government to extinguish the patentees’ exclusive right immediately and acquire it if the occasion so warranted.

“Let any crisis situation be visualised, the present Bill covers all contingencies,’’ he said.

The government had retained the right to invoke the provisions of national emergency and a compulsory licensing in the amended Bill.

Mr Maran said passing the Bill was a WTO obligation which the country had honoured today without harming the national interest. He informed the House that countries like Cuba, China and Russia had already passed such a legislation.

George dares Oppn to debate on ‘coffingate’
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 9
Amid heated exchanges between the ruling NDA and Opposition members an angry and agitated Defence Minister George Fernandes today dared the Opposition in the Lok Sabha to have a full-fledged discussion on the purchase of coffins from a US firm for the Kargil martyrs following media reports alleging excess payments by the Defence Ministry.

“I am prepared to have a full debate on the coffin issue,” Mr Fernandes said during zero hour after CPM member Basudeb Acharia wanted to know from the Chair the fate of his notice of breach of privilege against the Defence Minister.

Mr Acharia referred to a newspaper report which said the government had purchased the caskets at double the rates from an American firm.

Deputy Speaker P.M. Sayeed told Acharia that his notice was under his consideration.

Mr Fernandes’ intervention followed Opposition members shouting him down during question hour when he rose to reply to a question.

The Congress and other Opposition members told the House that they did not recognise him as Defence Minister.

As Mr Fernandes refused to resume his seat and went on replying, the Congress members trooped into the well demanding his resignation over the purchase of coffins. The members waved a newspaper article on the coffin issue.

As soon as the question listed against the Defence Minister came up, the Opposition members were on their feet vehemently protesting against the minister being allowed to reply to queries.

Slogans like “Kaffan chor, Gaddi Chhodo (coffin thief, quit the government),” were raised by the Congress members.

USA to give anti-terror aid to India
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 9
The USA has proposed a $ 50 million aid to India during the fiscal year 2003 as Foreign Military Financing for war against terrorism, Minister of State for External Affairs Omar Abdullah said today.

However, India’s focus in the ongoing India-US counter-terrorism cooperation was not on financial assistance from the USA but on efforts in combating terrorism, he told the Rajya Sabha.