Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Urgent Action Alert- India's Patents Act!

With the Lok Sabha having cleared the Bill with modest amendments the short-term advocacy challenge is to ensure the remaining desired amendments are taken up by the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) tomorrow. As the email alert indicated the debate starts at 10am IST (11:30pm EST) and so the time at hand is little.

For background information read our Action Alert from SAMAY at :

Surrender To Multinationals - India's Patent Ordinance

The following links will help you bring upto speed with what has transpired over the last couple of days in the Indian parliament and where things are right now.

From Businessweek and the Associate Press

The Lok Sabha passes the Bill - From The Hindu

Press Release from Indian Activists and Coalition Partners (PDF format)

ACTION ITEM -

Please print out the following letter that has been written by our dedicated friends in India and that Young India has endorsed. Fax this signed letter to the following political party offices at the earliest.

Download letter here (PDF format)

* Indian Congress +91 11 230 17047

* BJP +91 11 230 174 19

* Communist Party of India (Marxist) +91 11 23747483

* Communist Party of India +91 11 2323 55 43

We will have a political analysis of this situation shortly.

Thanks.
Peace.
Young India Team.

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