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WTO meet: SAD to move SC
Chautala welcomes Doha meeting outcome
Tribune Reporters

Chandigarh, November 16
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today urged the Union Government to call another meeting of the states to formulate the strategy for the next round of negotiations agreed upon by the member countries at Doha.

The SAD has reiterated to challenge the signing of the WTO agreement without consulting the states in the country by the Rao government in 1995 in the Supreme Court. “We are preparing the draft of the petition to be filed in the Supreme Court”, Capt Kanwaljit Singh said today.

The Rao government impinged on the constitutional rights of the state and the SAD wanted to seek a ruling from the Supreme Court in this connection so that in future no Centre Government could dare to violate the Constitution. With the signing of the agreement, the economy of predominantly agricultural states had started destabilising whereas the agriculture was a state subject under the provisions of the Constitution, he said.

Hoped that the practice of consulting the states by the Centre, before signing any agreement on subjects falling within the purview of the state governments, would continue.

He said the agreement on substantial improvement in market access and phasing out of all forms of export subsidies and substantial reduction in trade-distorting domestic support by the developed nations were likely to help Indian farmers in developing the nation.

The Chief Minister today welcomed the clause in the agreement which assured that further negotiations would take into account development needs, including food security and rural development. He, however, expressed concern over the inclusion of non-trade issues like labour standards and transparency in government procurement in the next round of negotiations. He also expressed the need for evolving a mechanism to protect the interest of small industries in the light of the WTO regime.

The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala has hoped that the practice of consulting the states by the centre, before signing any agreement on subjects falling under the purview of the state governments, would continue. He said that agreement on substantial improvement in market access and phasing out of all forms of export subsidies and substantial reduction in trade distorting domestic support by the developed nations was likely to help the Indian farmers in developing the nation in becoming competitive.

Capt Kanwaljit Singh said the Centre Government should have no powers to trample upon the rights guaranteed to states by the Constitution. The outcome of Doha meet on the World Trade Organisation( WTO) agreement has brought cheers to the Shiromani Akali Dal ( SAD).

Appreciating Union Commerce Minister, Murasoli Maran’s tough stand, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, General Secretary of SAD, today said most of the credit “goes to the SAD” for the formulation of such a tough stand taken by India there.

Alagh for adjustment funds to states

Jalandhar, November 16
Former Union Minister and noted economist Prof Y.S. Alagh today advocated that states should be granted adjustment funds for encouraging crop diversification and for export promotion of agro-based products and foodgrains.

Dr Alagh, who is the Chairman of the committee set-up by the Punjab Government to recommend strategies for the states farming sector in view of the WTO, said he had in his preliminary report recommended that Punjab should be given an adjustment fund of Rs 500 crore by the Centre to be used for helping and preparing farmers to take on the global trade market. He pointed out that he would submit the final report next month. UNI