BJP hails govt for WTO deal, bringing down inflation

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Friday lauded the government for holding its own in the international community on the issue of food security in WTO negotiations. It said the government had protected the rights of poor and farmers by successfully negotiating the deal with the US. It also praised the government for its initiatives to help bring down inflation and said the country's economy was being strengthened under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said the NDA government's policies helped bring inflation down to its lowest level in five years.

"The country's economy is being strengthened under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with reduced inflation, higher GDP and IIP growth and successful negotiation of international trade deals like the WTO that will help secure the interests of farmers in the country," Sharma said in a statement.

"Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership the country has achieved success on the economic front as well as in striking crucial international trade agreements. The United States has also agreed to India's stand on food subsidies in the WTO, which was raised by India for safeguarding the interests of poor and small farmers. India had earlier refused to sign the WTO agreement for the sake of the poor," he said.

Earlier, former commerce minister Anand Sharma said the government was "concealing the truth" about the India-US deal on public stock holding for food security at the WTO. "The government is guilty of concealing the truth, its claim of victory is hollow and surprising," Sharma, who is a spokesman for the Congress party, said.

"This is nothing but one-upmanship and a claim which is orchestrated for political gains and misleading. The issue of public stockholding for food security was actually forced by India at the Bali ministerial meeting and the same were secured and protected," Sharma said.

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