WTO deal: India draws world fire for sticking to Guntur over Geneva - Economic Times

NEW DELHI: India strongly defended its stand at the World Trade Organization seeking implementation of the entire Bali package, countering the global finger-pointing at New Delhi and the accusation that the collapse of talks in Geneva would deal a death blow to multilateral trade negotiations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the fight-back, telling visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry that the developed world should understand India's position. Modi "emphasised the need for developed countries to understand the challenges of poverty in developing countries and their governments' responsibilities in addressing them, when discussions take place in international forums", the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement after the meeting.

Efforts aimed at brokering a truce failed late on Thursday, prompting WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo to express disappointment, mirroring the sentiment of much of the rest of the world. "We have not been able to find a solution that would allow us to bridge the gap," he told diplomats with the clock running out on the July 31 deadline, urging members "to reflect long and hard on the ramifications of this setback".

Officials said India would take up the agenda again after the WTO resumes work in September following the summer break, reiterating that the country was not opposed to the trade facilitation agreement that many claim could add $1 trillion to global GDP and create 21 million new jobs.

"After the one-month break, we will resume talks in September. We are prepared to engage from day one onwards," said a senior government official. "There is no question of the Bali deal being off."

Committed to Trade Deal, says India

"Every two years there is a ministerial in WTO. The general council has not undone the decision of the Bali ministerial," said the government official.

The US said India's image could take a knock while others threatened to go ahead without India. "Failure to sign the trade facilitation agreement sent a confusing signal and undermined the very image Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi is trying to send about India," a US State Department official told reporters after Kerry's meeting with him. The WTO general council had to rubber stamp by July 31 a protocol for trade facilitation reached at the Bali ministerial in December 2013.

The trade facilitation agreement seeks to speed up global trade by simplifying customs procedures and cutting red tape. "We are 100% committed to trade facilitation. The deal has not broken," said the official. India sought implementation of the complete Bali package that includes the issue of public stockholding for food security purposes, proposing a December 31 deadline to stitch together a comprehensive package addressing all elements.

India regards the public stockholding issue as critical as it risks action under the WTO agreement on agriculture that limits farm support at 10% of the value of produce based on international prices that prevailed in 1986-88.

Many countries have accused India of turning its back on the Bali agreement and reopening negotiations, a charge officials dismissed. "In 2005, many said that Doha was on the brink of collapse. In 2008, they said the world will collapse if a Doha deal wasn't done, but it was the good sense of members that brought us back to the table," said the official cited above. "Pushing a date from July 31 to December is not bringing the heavens down. Too much emphasis is being made on the whole thing. Our commitment has not changed."

India's position caught much of the rest of the world by surprise as the country has always been a champion of world trade reform rather than blocs doing deals with each other, besides which the Modi government is avowedly pro-business. It was also isolated — only Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia supported India's stand.

"On the one side we have the firm conviction, shared by many, that the decisions that ministers reached in Bali cannot be changed or amended in any way — and that those decisions have to be fully respected," Azevedo said. "And on the other side of the debate we have some who believe that those decisions leave unresolved concerns that need to be addressed in ways that, in the view of others, change the balance of what was agreed in Bali," he said, adding that the gap could not be bridged. He said the stalemate had significant implications. Azevedo indicated there had been some progress but not enough. India had on Thursday offered a new solution within the framework of its broader suggestion, the details of which were not available. "We got closer — significantly closer — but not quite there," Azevedo said at an informal meeting of the trade negotiations committee late Thursday night, adding that the "future of the multilateral trading system" was in their hands.

Even as talks collapsed, some countries deliberated on continuing with the proposal without India, but the suggestion was opposed. "India is the second-biggest country by population, a vital part of the world economy and will become even more important. The idea of excluding India is ridiculous," New Zealand Minister of Overseas Trade Tim Groser told Reuters.

Experts said India should use its rising economic clout to effectively put forward its views and seek a solution soon. "Being an experienced negotiator from the GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs & Trade) days and having known these tricks of the developed countries of all talk and no action on ground, India has pushed for progress to commence on finding a permanent solution well before the WTO ministerial in 2017 rather than leaving it to the last minute," said Pradeep S Mehta, secretary-general, CUTS International, a consumer rights group.

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AIADMK protests Sri Lanka's 'insult' to Jaya - Times of India

COIMBATORE: The city witnessed various protests against Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse on Friday evening after the officials of Sri Lankan government defence ministry published an article ?how meaningful are Jayalalithaa's love letters to Narendra Modi'.

A group of lawyers from AIADMK gathered in front of the Coimbatore integrated court complex on Friday and staged a demonstration. They set ablaze a picture of Mahinda Rajapakse and raised slogans against his government for making derogatory remarks against chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

Five members of Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (TPDK) attempted to burn the Sri Lankan flag near Thiruvalluvar Bus stand at Gandhipuram on Friday evening. However, the police arrested them and five of them were taken to Race Course police station. Later, they were let off.

Three TPDK members threw a stone at the Damro shop located on Sathy Road near 100 Feet Road in the city and broke a glass window pane. Race course police rushed to the spot. They picked TPDK men for suspicious activities and further investigation is on.

As many as 100 members of AIADMK gathered on Avinashi Road near Anna Statue and blocked the road in protest. They burnt an effigy of Rajapakse and raised slogans. Another group of AIADMK members burnt effigies near RV Hotel at Gandhipuram and Kuniamuthur.

Over 20 members of Tamil Nadu Traders Association staged a demonstration near Red Cross buildingand burnt an effigy. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan government took down the controversial post from the website.

Sonia's reaction shows book has touched a raw nerve: Natwar Singh - Times of India

NEW DELHI: Once a close confidant, Natwar Singh raked up Sonia Gandhi's "Italian roots" to describe her as a ruthless person while adding that her reaction to his book showed that his revelations had touched a raw nerve.

Natwar said Sonia did not give him the chance to present his version over the Volcker report on oil-for-food scam, lamenting that he was cut out of the party despite four decades of loyalty with a ruthlessness alien to Indian culture.

"In India, you don't insult your elders. You give them regard. Indira Gandhi, Rajiv would not have done this. Anybody born in India would not have done this. But she has done it," he said. While Natwar claimed he had not used the words "Italian roots", the reference was more than clear.

"She has been in this country for 40 years but she still did it," he said.

The former foreign minister made light of Sonia's reaction that she would write her memoirs to bring out the truth and that she had seen much worse like death of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv to be hurt by claims in an autobiography.

"She never reacts. That she has reacted in this way means something has upset her immensely," he said when asked if he thought that his comments had touched a raw nerve.

Natwar said he was looking forward to Sonia's book and that he had once proposed to the Congress chief that he would write her biography if she did not pen an autobiography. "She told me that Priyanka was writing her biography. I then said that I would join Priyanka in that effort," Natwar said.

The Gandhi family loyalist, who fell out over the Iraq oil-for-food scam, said Sonia had dictatorial and authoritarian traits and that Congressmen were scared of her. "Has anyone said, you and your son are responsible for the 2014 results? Nobody says. You know I have got calls from many Congressmen who said I had done the right thing by making these revelations," he said.

The senior leader, however, made flattering comments about Sonia's leadership, saying she was Congress president for 15 years which means a lot because the party chief has to take decisions.

He was unambiguously dismissive of Rahul as a politician. "Politics is not a part-time job, it is 24-hour work. You need fire in the stomach. He does not have it," he said.

Natwar said there were high expectations of the Gandhi scion when he became party vice-president and he led the 2014 campaign. "But if you come down from 206 MPs to 44 MPs, then someone is responsible. But the authoritarian structure of the party is such that nobody asks," he said.

Natwar parried a question if it was time to blood Priyanka into politics but asked, "If she comes, what will Rahul do?" He, however, added that Priyanka was a good communicator and had Indira's charisma.

According to him, a good show by Congress in the upcoming assembly elections to four states would settle things for Rahul but another disaster may open up "other possibilities".

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Malin tragedy: Heavy rain hampering recovery of bodies - Times of India

PUNE: Despite the best efforts of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the removal of all bodies at the site of the landslide in Malin village is likely to take at least three or four more days. The NDRF personnel, who are working round-the-clock at the site, say the incessant heavy rain has badly hampered their operations.

On Friday, 26 bodies had been pulled out of the slushy mound till 10 pm, bringing the total number of bodies recovered to 70. The NDRF has estimated that as many as 158 people were buried in the landslide.

The non-stop rain has converted the entire area into a marshy ground. Around 360 NDRF personnel, who are working in four shifts at the site, say the removal of bodies would be faster if the intensity of the rain drops. They say they will not stop the ongoing operations till the entire area is cleared.

"We cannot set a deadline in such operations as the weather conditions keep changing every two hours. Besides, this being a hilly region, we have only one approach to the site," an NDRF official said. "The excavation slow downs during heavy rains as water keeps pouring down in torrents from the hills. We have prepared a plan to help the team clear the debris at the earliest," the official added.

The NDRF plan, which was prepared before the excavation work began, was done with help from the villagers who described the arrangement of houses in the village. The NDRF also took help of Google maps to know the outline of the area.

"There are about 70 houses in the village, of which 44 were hit by the landslide. Most of these houses are of the same size and outline and are huddled closely. All houses have an access from the road. The pile of mud covering these houses is about 20 feet high," the official said.

NDRF commandant (Pune) Alok Awasthy, who is heading the operations conducted by the rescue teams, said all these points were taken into consideration while preparing the action plan. Of the five earthmoving machines that have been pressed into service, two dig up the mud while the other three throw it into the valley nearby as the option of carting it away in trucks has been ruled out. The landslide-hit area admeasures 100x150 sq.m.

The operations are being carried out under the supervision of technical teams, Awasthy said. Besides, the NDRF personnel are also undertaking manual searches for bodies.

http://ift.tt/1uQJfcD),National Disaster Response Force,Malin village,bodies landslide

Kanpur murder case: Piyush heard Jyoti's shrieks on phone - Times of India

KANPUR: If the gruesome murder of the daughter-in-law of biscuit baron late on Sunday night was shocking, her husband's attitude all through the gory operation was even more chilling.

Jyoti Dasani was allegedly murdered by Renu Kanaujia and Sonu. Piyush, as per the claims of the police, was in regular touch with the killers on phone throughout the operation.

"While Renu and Sonu were stabbing Jyoti, her husband Piyush was listening to her shrieks live on his cell phone till they confirmed her death by saying 'kaam ho gaya hai," said a police officer.

Meanwhile, Kanpur police arrested two more persons in this case. The police have also recovered earrings and gold rings worn by Jyoti along with keys of Honda Accord and a handkerchief used by the killers to remove blood stains.

While Renu has named Piyush as the main conspirator in the case, another accused Ashish told the cops that barring Awdhesh none had received a penny for committing the crime.

He told the cops that the 'supari' for Jyoti's murder was fixed at Rs 50,000 out of which Rs 30,000 was paid as advance. Even Sonu corroborated Ashish's claim.

SSP K S Emannuel said that paan masala baron's daughter and Piyush's girlfriend Manisha Makhija had been booked under sections 302 and 120B of the IPC. He also said that several other girls were called for inquiry in the murder case, including a woman employee of Piyush.

When produced before the reporters, Renu said that the crime was executed in a moving car. "We held Jyoti upside down on the backseat. Sonu was the first to stab her. We both used the same knife to kill her and took turns in stabbing. All through the while, Awdhesh kept on driving the car," Sonu told reporters.

Sonu also revealed that Awdhesh took the car from Company Bagh Road to Rawatpur Crossing to Gurudeo Crossing before heading to Kalyanpur and Panki. The accused claimed that barring Awdhesh none of them had met Piyush before execution of the crime.

The local police is relieved to have solved the case that had turned into a prestige issue for the senior cops. The Jabalpur-based parents of the woman had earlier demanded a CBI probe into the brutal killing of their only daughter. Interestingly, Piyush was the complainant in the case as the FIR of the kidnapping-cum- murder was lodged on his complaint.

Sources said that Jyoti's parents were settled in Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh). Jyoti's father Shankar Nagdeo is a vice-president of Mahakaushal Chamber Of Commerce & Industry and is a renowned businessman of Jabalpur.

Natwar Singh on Sonia: Pay no attention to the disgruntled ex-courtier - Firstpost

They may hate the Gandhis, they may love the Gandhis but they cannot do without the Gandhis. While in the good books of the ‘family’ they enjoy the perks that come with it; out of favour they love to trash it, and it pays. How? Ask Natwar Singh, the bureaucrat- cum-politician, who has come out with scathing revelations on the Gandhi family. These promise to jack up the sales figures of his book. Either way it is a win-win situation for people like him.

Once an insider at 10 Janpath Natwar Singh has been an outsider for nearly a decade now. The timing of his book is a statement in itself. He has chosen to strike the beleaguered Gandhi household when it is battling on various fronts. He points to then 34-year-old Rahul Gandhi’s lack of courage in preventing his mother from taking up the prime ministerial assignment against the background of his grandmother and father’s fate. But, why wasn’t Natwar bold enough to take on the Gandhis while the UPA was in power? Just when the Congress was waiting for a report by AK Antony on the causes of the electoral debacle Natwar Singh butted in to make the most of the situation.

Courtesy: ibn live

While it pours out lot of bitterness against Sonia Gandhi, Natwar’s book also reflects a tilt towards the new ascending star of Indian politics. Singh says what Sonia has “achieved” is the reduction of one of the “greatest political parties” of the world into a “rump” of 45 members in the Lok Sabha. And, in the same breath he predicts Narendra Modi will restore India’s image with the commanding majority he enjoys.

The book has expectedly drawn comments from those who know him or those who overestimate the impact of his writing on the family which once meant so much to him. His choice of words like "authoritarian" and "capricious" to "Machiavellian" and "secretive" to describe Sonia Gandhi shows he has not got over the humiliation of being thrown out of the Congress inner circle in the wake of the Volcker controversy.

In many ways Natwar’s writing reminds one of MO Mathai, the former aide of Jawaharlal Nehru who chose to run down his former boss and his family with his perceptions of their personal lives as perceived by him. Writing about Mathai’s revelations in the book, Reminiscences of the Nehru Age, 1978; My Days with Nehru, Khushwant Singh had described Mathai as namak haram, a betrayer.

Even if his one-sided account of events is true to some extent, it stretches credulity when he claims that Sonia Gandhi sent Priyanka in her feminine mufti to request him to drop the Rahul Gandhi chapter. It reflects the propensity of people to draw cheap mileage from the proximity to the family.

Whatever be his relevance in the feudal order of Bharatpur Natwar Singh means little to current students of politics, history or foreign affairs. So, to come out with a book and make it sell using Rahul Gandhi as launching pad can be seen as a good tactic. Journalists in Rajasthan who saw him hop from party to party and change prefixes to his name would hardly trust him for his intellectual honesty or political conviction. Not surprising therefore to see him remaining on the fringes even while enjoying considerable influence on the erstwhile first family of Indian politics.

Coming from the family of courtiers to the Bharatpur royalty Natwar Singh did well for himself to pursue studies under royal scholarship in Scindia School, Gwalior, Mayo College, Ajmer, St Stephen’s in Delhi and later in England before joining the Foreign Service.

Staying close to power came easy to him. He consistently enjoyed political patronage from Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi and even won an election in 1984 during the post-Indira assassination wave from Bharatpur. To be acceptable as a part of the royalty he described himself as Kunwar Natwar Singh. He never won another election and tried to sustain his political relevance by reinventing himself as a Jat leader, as Choudhary Natwar Singh. After his unlamented departure from Gandhi household has by turns sucked up to Maywati’s BSP and to BJP’s Vasundhara Raje. In his 80s now he can only be expected to stay relevant through such tricks.

Sonia Gandhi has expectedly trashed Natwar’s claims. So it his word against hers now. Sonia says she would have to write a book to put the record straight. Till then “One life is not enough”.

Modi's firm stand at WTO is a departure from UPA's decade-long weakness - Firstpost

Narendra Modi government’s continued stand at the WTO that India’s food security is as important as the Western nation’s desperate desire to get the Trade Facilitation Protocol passed is an emphatic departure from the multilateral and bilateral trade policies pursued by the Manmohan Singh government during the last ten years.

The new approach is reciprocal and strong, while the UPA had tended to capitulate under international pressure.

Through this bold decision, in which the the July 31 deadline for the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) has lapsed, India has told the US and the EU that its primary concern is its hungry poor and not their goodwill. Without agreeing to safeguarding their food interests, India cannot agree to a treaty aimed at maximising (mostly) rich countries’ exports.

For the first time in the last ten years, India has also told the world that when it comes to national interests, it doesn’t care for what is considered good manners in the international forums. Indirectly, it has also told the world that it doesn’t stand by the weak position of its predecessor, the UPA, which had agreed for the TFA without negotiating hard for a “single undertaking” - taking decisions on both the issues together.

When the UPA government had agreed for the TFA in Bali during the last round of negotiations, it was in lieu of a proposed agreement on its food security requirements. The US, EU and other developed countries had opposed India’s food subsidy programmes if they exceeded 10 per cent of the total agricultural production, the limit permitted under the WTO (World Trade Organisation) rules.

The WTO Agreement on Agricultural (AoA) subsidies allows only 10 percent (of production) subsidy for most of the developing countries. Rich countries argued that the Food Security Bill exceeds this 10 percent and therefore it would “distort” international trade. Using the AoA, they picked on India’s stock holding of food grains, minimum support prices to farmers and other subsidies while overlooking the fact that they dole out billions of dollars as indirect subsidies in their respective countries.

In hindsight, it’s clear that the UPA government shouldn’t have wilted under pressure at the WTO and should have bargained hard. If there was no agreement for a “single undertaking”, it should have docked the TFA. Instead, it allowed for cherry picking by the US and the EU, which became a source of international pressure and bad international press. It’s clear now that had the UPA taken a firm stand, things could have been favourable to India.

India’s current strong position appears to have led to some softening of stand by the US. On Thursday, American secretary of state John Kerry said that he understood India’s concerns about its food security requirements. He also expressed hope that the Bali package would address them. This is a stated departure from the position of the block of countries led by the US and EU earlier. In all its dealings towards the TF protocol, they had been dismissive of the food security requirements of India.

The US had earlier said that "we are extremely discouraged that a small handful of Members in this organization (WTO) are ready to walk away from their commitments at Bali, to kill the Bali agreement, to kill the power of that good faith and goodwill we all shared, to flip the lights in this building back to dark”.

While countries such as the US cry foul of a “missed deadline” because of India’s firm stand, experts point to the fact that the history of WTO is dotted with a number of deadlines. Chakravarthy Raghavan, editor emeritus of South-North Development Monitor, said that “if the deadline for the TF protocol is missed, it will be one of a long line of ‘missed deadlines' from the inception of the WTO on 1 January 1995: those mandated by Ministerial Conferences and thus ‘Ministerial political commitments', and those missed in terms of legally binding mandated deadlines set by the Marrakech Treaty.”

“Many of these missed deadlines and unfulfilled obligations are central to the demands of developing countries and the fulfilment of the development mandate under the Doha negotiations, and a vast majority of missed deadlines is because of the US and developed countries withholding consensus,” he adds.

India therefore shouldn’t worry about another missed deadline. What’s important is its sovereign right over its domestic policies for the welfare of its people.