A Letter To Justice Iyer

{Eminent jurist Justice VR Krishna Aiyer, issued a statement on Septmeber 3, 2007 which was published by The Hindu of September 4 with the title "Krishna Aiyer Welcomes Reliance Promis". The Content of the news item appeared to us as favouring Relinace Fresh. So we wrote a letter to Justice Aiyer. The letter and the reply given by Justice Aiyer are being published here. Editor}

Respected Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer Ji,

We have been your staunch admirer and met you in several meetings and shared the plateform in several meeting of NAPM. We have felt honoured in publishing your articles and press statements in our journal Nai Azadi Udghosh. We were extremely happy when you chaired ‘People’s Commission an GATT’ and brought out an excellent report in which it was pointed out that by GATT (now WTO) how our sovereignty would be jeopardised. You have been a powerful spokesman against globalisation and multinationalisation. We are also glad to know that you will be a member of the International Tribunal on World Bank (which is spearheading globalisation and multinationalisation through out the world) to be held his month in JNU, New Dehi.

We are shocked to read a news item published in the Hindu, Tuesday, September 4, 2007 (Delhi edition) on page 11 with the title ‘Krishna Iyer welcomes Reliance promise.’ The item says that in a letter to a senior officer of Reliance Retail you rightly recall that India is a Socialist Republic and mega corporations like Reliance in such a republic is a contradiction. How can this contradiction be addressed by Reliance’s promise of encouraging organic farming and not displacing retailers ? We should not forget the motives and the history of Reliance and its promoters. Corporations like Reliance are avantgaurd of Wal-Mart who claims that it will bring farmers and producers nearer to consumers. This whole philosophy of Wal-Mart is based on profit and is anti-people and that is why it is being opposed even in United States.

Let’s not forget that entry of big corporations in agriculture and retail sector is part of WTO (and GATT) agenda. Our field experience shows that wherever big corporations have entered they have replaced workers, labourers, farmers and sustainable agriculture. About 65 crores poor Indians depend upon agriculture and retail market. Allowing domestic and foreign MNCs in these fields even if they promise good intention, will displace them as has been done in other countries like the US and France. Even with all good intention if you appreciate their operations in Kerala you are encouraging Wal-Martisation of our agriculture and retail. We are also perturbed by an interpretation of Socialism by eminent persons, Budhadeo Bhattacharya of West Bengal is one of them. Deeply perturbed by the shameful happenings in Nandigram and Singur, we got some solace when we read the Kerala Govt. has come out openly against the entry of foreign and domestic MNCs in agriculture and retail. If what is reported in the news paper is true (we hope it should not be) it will send a very wrong massage to those who are fighting against corporations.
We would like to be excused if we have hurt your feelings.
With best regards.
Yours sicnerely
(Prof. BanwariLal Sharma)
National convener

Justice Iyer's Reply

I have received your letter expressing surprise at my statement on Reliance. Although the caption is a half-truth, the contents in the Hindu make my point in favour of retailers and customers. Perhaps, I was indiscreet in replying to the Reliance Officer who met me with a reliable firiend. I had issued a press statement although the media may or may not publish it. How about the anti-swadeshi policy of a Union Government liberally allowing import by foreign big corporations? I am shocked, probably you too are!

Yours sincerely
VR Krishna Iyer