Edits In Short: June 24

The Times of India

Lead article: An Open Letter To John Kerry

Som Mittal, President of Nasscom has penned this open letter to US Secretary of State John Kerry. He comments on the repercussions of adopting the proposed Senate Immigration Bill and voices India’s IT industry’s concerns that the proposed Bill arbitrarily singles out a group of multinational info-tech companies. “These proposals amount to discriminatory and punitive treatment of the Indian IT industry and will necessarily restrict thousands of US companies from continuing to use their services.”Also, the limitation in the new visa regime will limit the services in the hands of a few service providers, which will lead to inflexibility and increased costs.

The author comments that the Bill could place a strain on the US-India strategic partnership and trade, which could have harmful consequences for both economies. He states that the HR 2131 Issa-Goodlatte SKILLS Visa Act proposed by the House Of Representatives is more prudent and hopes that John Kerry will support the House of Representatives approach as trade and collaboration in advanced IT solutions and services between Indo-US will continue to benefit the economies of both countries.

For complete article:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/An-open-letter-to-John-Kerry/articleshow/20731863.cms

The Hindu

This squeaky wheel needs no oil

The author,Seema Sirohi – senior journalist based in Washington – comments on the fourth round of the India-US Strategic Dialogue which is to begin today. A Dialogue which has been accompanied by “a mini tornado of complaints from the American business lobby about India’s economic policies and an alleged lack of intellectual property protection”.  Big pharma from the US is also channeling its pressure tactics through the US Congress because they are upset about recent Indian decisions which they fear could lead to other countries following suit. Recent decision such as India’s Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks revoking Pfizer’s patent on the anti-cancer drug, Sutent, last year is one of these decisions.

The India-US economic engagement isn’t as bleak as the US naysayers would have us believe. For example, India has granted 4,064 patents between 2005 and 2011 and 85 per cent of them went to foreign companies. Of those, the highest share went to US nationals.

Since there is actually a strong foundation – based on Indian investment in the US, job creation and bilateral trade – the author states that business lobbies in the United States should not be allowed to dominate the India-US strategic dialogue.

For complete article: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/this-squeaky-wheel-needs-no-oil/article4844567.ece

The Indian Express

In the beginning, a National Democratic Front

LK Advani writes a tribute to late Dr SP Mookerjee recalling his contribution to Indian politics. Advani shares anecdote of the launch of Bharatiya Jana Sangh party under Mookerjee’s leadership in Kanpur. It was here that Mookerjee recited the slogan “Ek desh mein do pradhan, do nishan, do vidhan nahi challenge nahi chalege (Ours is a country: we can’t have two presidents, two flags and two constitution).” Advani narrates various historical incidents such as launching the first nationwide movement for complete integration of J&K with India. And how during this movement, Mookerjee was arrested for entering Jammu without a permit. When asked for the permit, he had famously said that under the “Indian constitution every Indian citizen had a right to travel any part of the country”. He also recalls Mookerjee’s contribution in bringing anti-Congress forces on a common platform.

For complete article:  http://epaper.indianexpress.com/128394/Indian-Express/24-June-2013#page/11/1