(rptg, correcting name in para seven, line one)

New Delhi, Aug 2 (UNI) The only 'Ram' in the Rajya Sabha is not with the BJP, as expected, but with the CPI(M).

This ironical 'fact' was pointed out by CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury during a discussion on the Free Trade Agreement with Nepal, Sri Lanka and ASEAN countries. Only his own name Sitaram has Ram in it and there was no such case in BJP, he pointed out.

He said this when it was pointed out that the issue of Free Trade Agreement has brought the left wing CPI(M), the right wing BJP and industrialist Rahul Bajaj together as they all demanded the government to take care of the livelihoods of the people before signing FTAs.

When Mr Bajaj said that he agreed with Mr Yechury's comment that the government compromised on the interests of farmers while signing FTAs, BJP leader M M Joshi said, ''See how much things have changed as now the Left leader has started speaking the launguage of the industrialists.'' This evoked a strong protest from Mr Yechury who said that it was the other way round as the industrialist was speaking his language.

Mr Yechury was, however, happy that now the BJP had started sharing the sentiments of the CPI(M).

On this, Comerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath said he was happy that his answer brought all the three forces together on the issue.

On a serious note, the minister rpt minister informed that the government was evaluating the FTA with Sri Lanka and Nepal and planning to change the rules of origin as it was being misused and abused by many industries like Vanaspati and Copper. He admitted that 25 Indian enterpreneurs had set up Vanaspati production units in Sri Lanka to take advantage of the duty free imports from that country and Nepal.

He said that though India was negotiating FTA with ASEAN and signed Framework Agreement with ASEAN in 2003, no FTA had been signed till now. This was due to the fact that the negative list of commodities forwarded by India was not acceptable to ASEAN. He said that India and ASEAN had been unable to achieve a convergence as some products like Palm Oil were contentious issues.

Indonesia and Malaysia export 80 per cent Palm oil, if tariff was reduced on this, it would not only affect revenue but also have an impact on the domestic market. He said it had been seen that the benefit of tariff reduction did not reach the consumers most often as the supplier increased the rate.

Joining the debate, Mr Bajaj, in his maiden question, demanded that the government should not compromise on the interest of agriculture and industry of the country through FTA. He demanded a short duration discussion on this serious issue.

UNI AJ PK ND1306