WTO: Farmers, unions ask India not to buckle under pressure

Farmers and trade unions today asked India not to bow under pressure and weaken the country's position in upholding national food security as a sovereign right at the WTO ministerial meet here.
Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma is leading the Indian delegation at WTO.
In a statement issued here, farmers and trade unions asked the India to not to bow under any pressure and weaken India's position on defending and upholding national food security as a sovereign right.
The statement was jointly issued by groups, including Bhartiya Kisan Union, Bharatiya Krishak Samaj and Bharatiya Majdoor Sangh.
Safeguarding the country's food security and livelihood of farmers are non-negotiable, they said.

Meanwhile, in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, organisations, including Confederation of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture (ASHA), India asked not to give up the long term interest of the nation for hazy short term promises.

Supporting India's stand, the letter said India should not come under pressure from the developed countries.
"We urge you to stand firm and reject a Peace Clause that does not guarantee a permanent solution to the issue of price support to poor farmers in the country's sovereign endeavour for securing food for all," it said.
It said the Indian Commerce Minister and his delegation when negotiating must not be weighed down by the propaganda of developed countries.

"By doing so, he will do his people and other developing and least developed countries a long lasting favour," it added.