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Cong takes on Modi over WTO remark
PM’s statement claiming only BJP protecting poor farmers’ interests factually incorrect, says Anand Sharma
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 10
The Congress today disputed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claim that only the BJP government protected the interests of the country’s poor farmers and the right to food security by taking a stand at the recent WTO meeting.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement at the BJP national executive meeting is partisan, misleading and factually incorrect,” Congress leader and former Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said in a statement.

The allegation that the UPA government had surrendered India’s right and farmers’ interest at the Bali ministerial meet of the WTO was “astonishing, irresponsible and false”, he said. An impression was being created by the BJP-led government that it was India’s principled position to protect its right to food security, which forced the country to take a tough stance. This was nothing but one-upmanship and a claim that was orchestrated for political gains and misleading. The issue of public stockholding for food security was actually forced by India at the Bali ministerial meeting and the same was secured and protected, Sharma claimed.

He said the Prime Minister needed to be reminded that it was India’s strong and uncompromising stance that forced the issue of procurement of foodgrains for public stockholding and livelihood on the Bali WTO agenda despite stiff opposition from the US, European Union and other developed countries.

India fought tenaciously and succeeded in putting together a global coalition of developing countries of Asia, Africa, Latin America and Caribbean. That forced the developed countries to cede ground, agree to negotiate a permanent solution to change WTO rules, which India rejected at Bali as inherently flawed and unjust. India also secured for itself and other developing countries protection from any challenge at the WTO for any breach until a negotiated permanent solution was put in place, he said.

Seeking to suggest that Modi was mixing up issues, the Congress Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha said it was embarrassing that the Prime Minister was confusing the right of public stock holding issue with the sovereign right of food security. Food security was a sovereign space and it had never been a part of the WTO agenda, he said.

In a rather tersely worded rejoinder, he said: “The Prime Minister of India is expected to be well informed and literate about the position taken by India at multilateral forums and the WTO. The PM has either been misinformed or has chosen to deliberately make a statement, which is incorrect and false.”

What the former minister says

India’s strong and uncompromising stance brought the issue of procurement of foodgrains for public stockholding and livelihood on the Bali WTO agenda

The PM is confusing the right of public stockholding issue with sovereign right of food security. Food security is a sovereign right and has never been a part of WTO agenda

PM expected to be well informed

The Prime Minister of India is expected to be well informed and literate about the position taken by India at multilateral forums and the WTO. The PM has either been misinformed or has chosen to deliberately make a statement, which is incorrect and false.

Anand Sharma, former commerce minister

Cong to raise issue in Parliament today

The Congress said it would raise the WTO issue in Parliament on Monday. “Both Houses are in session, so it becomes a question of privilege of the members to know the truth. The Congress will raise the issue on Monday,” said Congress leader Anand Sharma. — PTI