Kerala - Kozhikode   

Priests oppose Seed Bill

By Our Special Correspondent

KOZHIKODE, FEB. 15. Priests in the Diocese of Mananthavady in Wayanad district have appealed to the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, to withdraw the Patent Amendment Ordinance and cancel the Seed Bill.

The demand was made in a resolution passed at a meeting of 156 Catholic priests working in Wayanad, Kannur and Malapuram districts under the Diocese of Mananthavady.

The resolution adopted at the special assembly, presided over by Jose Porunnedom, expressed concern over "the disastrous consequences" of the Patent Amendment Ordinance, passed by the Central Government, as well as the Seed Bill, under the consideration of the Rajya Sabha, on the lives and livelihood of the farming community.

They said it was an affront on the Indian farmers, who were already struggling to survive due to the fall in prices of commodities and the recurring natural calamities. The priests also drew the attention of the Prime Minister to the high rate of suicide among the farmers in Wayanad. The participants said it was the constitutional duty of a democratic government to protect water, soil and seeds since these were acknowledged the inalienable birthrights of farmers and citizens.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Engagements |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

All set for Ragam '05
Special schools fete: Thrissur, Kottayam share honours
Festival of rural products concludes
Priests oppose Seed Bill
Women's participation sought in rural uplift

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu