SJM ups the ante over IPR policy

The RSS-inspired organisation criticises govt's response to US demands on changes in India's IPR law

After the controversial land acquisition Bill, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is rapping on the government over its draft national intellectual property rights (IPR) policy and its engagement with the US.

The Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM), an RSS-inspired organisation, in its latest monthly journal Swadeshi Patrika, carried a cover story that criticises the government's response to US demands on changes in India's IPR law.

In the article, titled 'Nightmarish consequences of hazardous flirtation with US', the SJM tells the government to refrain from sacrificing India's interests. The SJM links the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s debacle in the Delhi Assembly elections to negative public perceptions about the government.

"Most important being the fact that even the perception of bias against the common man in favour of corporates is going to be radically detrimental. Similarly, the perceived compromise on ideological issues like Article 370, GM (genetically modified crops) technology, IP regime, etc., is further adding to negative sentiment," the article said.

Observers say the publication of the article just ahead of the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha of the RSS in Nagpur on Friday, in which BJP President Amit Shah and Organising Secretary Ram Lal, and representatives of other Sangh Parivar organisations are expected to participate, sets the tone of the meet where the RSS takes stock of the activities of Parivar organisations and gives shape to future strategies.

"The BJP representatives will have a tough time explaining the government's stance on the land Bill, J&K government formation and GM technology, as the SJM, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh and Vigyan Bharati have taken on the government on these issues," said a Sangh leader who did not want to be named. When Modi was general secretary of the BJP, he used to represent the party in this top decision-making meeting.

The SJM's warning achieves significance in light of criticism that the Narendra Modi government bowed to US pressure and agreed to set up a joint working group on IPR during the PM's visit to the US last September. The working group is scheduled to meet thrice this year. The US is exerting pressure on India to change India's patent laws to favour US pharmaceutical companies.

"India, in no way, can afford to fall prey to global corporate pressure. If we allow the Indian Patents Act to be diluted, our public health security will be in jeopardy. India should ensure no ground is lost to the manipulative diplomacy of the western world," said SJM National Co-convenor Ashwini Mahajan.

Further, the magazine also produced a summary of comments on the draft policy. "The draft IPR policy needs a major change in its approach and must change its orientation from its current maximalist approach to a development-oriented approach to facilitate India's technological and industrial catching-up, technological needs in agriculture, access to food, knowledge and health products."

In October 2013, the government set up a think-tank to draft a national IPR policy. The think-tank is scheduled to meet on March 25-28 to finalise its report.