Patents Bill headed for select panel

Left, BJP refuse to change stand

Faced with opposition from both the Left and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the government appears to have made up its mind to refer the Patents Ordinance to a parliamentary joint select committee.

According to official sources, the commerce ministry has already been assured that if the government can explain its position to the international community, a default on Patents legislation will not attract punitive economic sanctions.

"The Ordinance was announced within the stipulated time, so the government's intention to honour its commitment is clear. The referral to the select committee can be explained as part of our democratic system," said a minister.

While Commerce Minister Kamal Nath has been trying to speak to the Left and the BJP, it may even be possible that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh step in to build a consensus on the issue.

"At this point, the talks between the Left and the government have been going on at the co-ordination committee level. If need be, the Prime Minister will intervene, if international pressure is too much," added the source.

The BJP, which had originally drafted the Patents Ordinance, also appear to be believing that no international sanctions will be imposed on the country if the Ordinance lapses.

"These delays can be explained. It is true that the Bill was drafted by the National Democratic Alliance government, but we, too, had referred it to a standing committee since we wanted a variety of consultations," said former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha.

The fact that Nath had pushed through an Ordinance a day before the deadline demanded that it be referred to a select committee, Sinha added.

A meeting with Left parties to sort out matters was called off today, lending credence to the fact that the government had given up on the passage of the Patents Ordinance.

According to sources in the Prime Minister's Office, at least four of the amendments suggested by the Left were unacceptable to the government. "There appears to be no way out of the impasse," said the source.

The BJP had suggested that the parliamentary select committee be asked to submit its findings within a week, but the government felt since the Ordinance had been referred to the committee, it would be unfair to hasten the process.