By IANS,
New Delhi : The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Monday said union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, who is also the NCP chief, was not consulted before the India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was signed.
“Sharad Pawar was not consulted before signing the pact. The agreement was signed by Commerce Minister Anand Sharma. So, Pawar is not responsible for the agreement’s negative impact on the agriculture sector of certain states, particularly Kerala,” said NCP national general secretary T.P. Peethambaran Master.
The party said it would organise a sit-in of farmers from Kerala in front of parliament Nov 4 to protest the pact.
The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala has been protesting the India-ASEAN free trade agreement since it was signed on Aug 13.
The Left parties alleged that the FTA would affect livelihood of millions of farmers, fishermen and small entrepreneurs in the state.
The NCP is not part of the LDF in the state.
Asked whether the issue was not discussed in the union cabinet, of which Pawar is a member, Peethambaran Master said the cabinet did not discuss the FTA decision in detail.
He said the concerned states also should have been consulted before signing such an important agreement.
The NCP leader from Kerala said Pawar was aware of the party’s protest in front of Parliament House.
“We had written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Commerce Minister Anand Sharma demanding protection of Kerala farmers’ interest. But we have not received any assurance,” he told reporters here.