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Ignore isolation threat, Gurumurthy tells govt

BS Political Bureau

Swadeshi ideologue of the Sangh Parivar S Gurumurthy has said the government must not concede a new round of negotiations during the WTO ministerial meeting at Doha (Qatar) even if it is threatened with an isolation.

Given the government's stance, so far, Gurumurthy appears convinced that it will stick to the position of "not allowing the new round" and stay away from the multilateral agreement regulating the trade. "There is nothing to be scared of, even if we are isolated," he said.

The swadeshi leader, whose views reflect the position of the Sangh Parivar and have a bearing on the government's policy, admitted that his opinion on the WTO differs from the suggestions given by officials to the government with regard to "national treatment".

"Our views on the national treatment will allow reservation for small-scale industries and protection for the agriculture while the advise given by officials negates both," Gurumurthy told Business Standard.

The Swadeshi Jagaran Manch convenor, however, refrained from commenting on the prime minister's stance on the WTO ministerial meeting. The PM had said that India was ready to talk on any issue, provided the previous commitments made in the Uruguay round were fulfilled. But, Gurumurthy maintained that the threat of isolation at the WTO must not deter the government from pursuing its agenda.

On the economic slowdown, he said the government should formulate varied norms applicable from industry to industry.

The government should exempt the cement and steel industries from non-performing asset norms. "You cannot have high performing assets in non-performing economy," he remarked.

Referring to poor performance of the financial institutions, he suggested that all FIs should be merged into a "huge entity" on the pattern of the Chinese Development Bank.

In his view, the huge, single FI would eliminate the unhealthy competition among various FIs and ensure efficiency. In sharp contrast to his criticism of the PMO's functioning, Gurumurthy turned cautious when asked about the role of certain officials of the PMO in the UTI crisis.

He, however, pointed out that though the telephone calls made by individuals did not prove anything, these calls did call into question bona fides of some people.

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