Don't dilute patent law, IPR regime: CPI-M

New Delhi: The CPI-M Tuesday asked the government not to dilute the existing patent law and IPR regime, saying they had kept prices of drugs down in India.

The Communist Party of India-Maxist also opposed the Indo-US decision to go in for a renewal of the bilateral defence framework agreement for another 10 years.

The CPI-M said it had taken a serious note of the fact that the US had sought to pressurize India on the Indian Patent law and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) policy.

"It also sought the dilution of the civil nuclear liability law of the country," it said, adding both of these were reflected in the joint statement issued by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Barack Obama after the former's trip to the US.

"US pharmaceutical companies have been demanding that India dilute its present patent regime which has utilized the flexibilities provided in the TRIPS agreement.

"It is this which helps to keep drug prices low for the people in India."

The CPI-M politburo urged the Modi government not to resile from the existing patent law and IPR regime. "No changes should be brought without public discussion and being debated in parliament."

It pointed out that the Modi-Obama statement also provides for setting up Contact Groups to discuss liability issues in the nuclear reactors sales.

"The (CPI-M) reiterated that the provisions of the civil nuclear liability law are in the interests of the safety and security of the people of India and should not be diluted in any way."

It strongly opposed the decision to go in for a renewal of the Indo-US Defence Framework Agreement for another 10 years.

"Such a long-term defence collaboration agreement with the US is uncalled for and is not in the interests of India's strategic autonomy and independent foreign policy."