The Hindu Business Line : Lok Sabha defers discussion on Patent Bill by a day

THE Lok Sabha on Monday deferred the discussion on the Patent (Amendment) Bill 2005 by a day, following stiff opposition from the NDA and the Left parties that are providing outside support to the UPA Government.

The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Friday. The Bill, which is to replace an Ordinance promulgated earlier as part of WTO commitments and moved after prolonged lobbying to seek political consensus, met with resistance as almost all parties said they needed time to study the ramifications of the amendments, including those moved by Government and the Left parties.

The BJP has demanded that the Bill be referred to the Standing Committee on Commerce. The Left, too, has demanded that the Government introduce some more changes or refer it to the standing committee.

However, any consensus appears to be elusive with the NDA allies issuing a whip to their respective members to be present in Parliament on Tuesday and vote against the Patent Bill in case the House goes for voting.

The Left parties would be meeting on Tuesday morning to decide on their next course of action, CPI MP, Mr Gurudas Dasgupta, said.

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