Asian meet begins with warning on India's globalization
Friday, 03 January 2003, 20:30 IST
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HYDERABAD: A meet of international social activists, mostly from Asia, began here Thursday with a warning that India would meet the fate as Yugoslavia unless the forces of globalisation were resisted. Setting the tone for the six-day long Asian Social Forum, eminent personalities voiced concern over the clout of multilateral financial institutions like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) in India. Addressing the opening ceremony at the sprawling Nizam College Grounds, they said the forces of globalisation and liberalisation were playing havoc with the country's economy, specially the rural economy. "These forces are taking the country on the road of disintegration. The country will break up the way Yugoslavia did because of foreign investments in that country," the speakers said. Eminent economist Prabhat Patnaik expressed concern over the unfettered flow of foreign capital into the country and said it was weakening the economic sovereignty of India. "As the central government is withdrawing itself from the economy, more and more state governments are dealing directly with the World Bank and IMF for financial assistance. It is giving these institutions more clout over the states and it will pave the way for the disintegration of the country in future as happened in Yugoslavia," he said. Medha Patkar, the leader of the Narmada Bachao Andolan; Abdul Saleh Jawad, a former minister of the Palestinian authority; and Nora de Cortinas, the leader of the Mothers of Plaza Mayo movement in Argentina were among other speakers. Noted Pakistani human rights activists Asma Jehangir and other delegates from Pakistan could not attend the forum as they have been denied visas by the Indian government. Noted Gandhian Nirmala Deshpande condemned the denial of visa to them. Patkar, referring to the rise and increasing strength of the forces of Hindu nationalism in the country said the time had come for all well-meaning and concerned people to fight such forces with their own alternative of a "secular nationalism" and development which cared for everybody. Modelled after the World Social Forum held annually at Porto Allegre in Brazil, the ASF is being attended by delegates from 40 Asian countries. They include representatives from NGOs, trade unions, social movements, women, youth and Dalit organisations, intellectuals and academicians, who will deliberate on various issues concerning the fight against globalisation. Besides a series of seminars and workshops, the forum will also have cultural performances by at least 100 troupes and a film festival, where 100 films across Asia including 50 documentaries would be screened.
Source: IANS
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