[Ip-health] Indian Patents Bill faces roadblock

[Ram]

> The Times of India


Indian  Patents Bill faces roadblock

The fate of the Patents (Amendment) Bill hangs in balance after the
BJP announced its decision to oppose it raising fears of a default on
India's international obligation to bring its patents regime in line
with the WTO norms.

With the entire Left along with SP already arrayed against the Bill -
which needs to be enacted to replace the Ordinance before March 24
when Parliament goes into recess, BJP's opposition makes its passage
in its current form a difficult proposition. The "no" from the saffron
formation - with others in the NDA certain to take the cue - also
means that the government will have to engage in feverish negotiations
to salvage the situation.

Fortunately for it, an influential section within the BJP appeared to
be alive to the international ramifications of the demise of the Bill,
opening a window for an engagement with the government side and a
possible return from the brink, in lieu of some concessions.

On Tuesday, however, the party- fresh from hard-won political battles
in Jharkhand and Goa - resorted to tough rhetoric against the Bill.
Asserting that the Bill was "not in national interest," the BJP
threatened to oppose it.


"We have decided to demand in both Houses that the Patents Bill be
referred to either a standing committee or joint select committee. If
the government does not agree, we will oppose the Bill," BJP
parliamentary party spokesperson V K Malhotra said.

The Bill in its present form is "not acceptable" to the party as "it
was not in the national interests," he said, adding "we want a
consensus on it."

The Left had on Monday asked for amendments to the Bill. CPM's
Nilotpal Basu had said that the negotiations were on with the
government, implying a willingness to allow the Bill to through if its
demand for changes were met. Samajwadi Party has made it plain that it
would go along with the Left on all economic issues, and that stacks
the odds further against the Bill.

Non-saffron components of the NDA have traditionally been left of the
BJP on economic issues, with JD-U and Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool
often resenting the senior partner's support for reforms measures.
They would be too happy to go along with BJP on the issue.