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The Congress party today reiterated the UPA government’s description of the WTO deal inked at Bali as “historic”. The party which is on the brink of the 2014 polls, already views its Food Security bill as a “feather in its cap” and now the signing of this agreement as Congress leaders elaborated “bolstered” its standing on food security commitment to the people and the party’s commitment to the farming community.
Congress leaders claimed Commerce Minister Anand Sharma ashad scripted a “victory” for the government. Spokesperson PC Chako said, “What the Commerce minister has achieved is to establish India’s firm position on food security despite the pressure exerted by the US. When we give subsidies to our farmers, is not even ten per cent of what developed countries like France and US give in form of concessions to theirs.”
Moreover, he added, “What we give as part of our Food Security programme to the people is essentially a bid towards poverty alleviation and is an essential part of the country’s development. We have always maintained that we are not going to compromise and we have delivered on that.”
The party had faced flak from the Opposition BJP and the Left parties who had warned the UPA to not buckle under international pressure.
Reacting to the BJP’s critique of the deal, Congress’ Randeep Surjewala said, “The Opposition has always believed in creating a mood of cynicism and negativism. They are only interested in wrecking and demolishing whatever we achieve.” Surjewala contended, “Food security is part of the national agenda of India and not just the Congress party’s agenda. The agenda to feed the poor and the hungry is of paramount importance not just nationally but internationally as a step towards fighting hunger, deprivation and poverty.”
Congress leaders maintain that the government has always maintained that they would not compromise the country’s interests towards farmers and its people and whatever opponents might allege, the UPA has not compromised India’s interests which had even led to a stalemate in the talks. As Anand Sharma said in Bali, “We have negotiated a package for food security that will provide food to millions of poor in the world.”
