Swadeshi Jagran Manch to write to PM Modi on Monsanto ‘violations’

The government may have come back with a resounding majority that frees up its arm considerably buat there is unlikely to be any let-up in the persistent nudges from the RSS-affiliated Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM).

The new Narendra Modi government has just taken charge and the SJM is preparing to write its first letter to the prime minister pointing out the violations of rules by ‘powerful MNCs’ like Monsanto NSE -0.52 %, the slow pace with which the Competition Commission of India (CCI) is allegedly deciding on cases against them and the negligent attitude of the agriculture ministry. While the Manch’s first communication to the new government will go out this week on the CCI and Bt Cotton issue, a bigger agenda is being set. ET has learnt that next on SJM’s target is the strategic disinvestment plan for Air India and the increasing tendency of government departments to deploy big foreign consultants.

Both are issues that the Manch is preparing to take up strongly with the government at all levels over the next few months. The SJM is already using social media to alert the government and its new ministers against the alleged ‘business’ rather than philanthropic interests of top global charities in India, deep discounts by Amazon and Flipkart hurting Indian e-commerce start ups and US ‘bullying’ the new government through withdrawal of special trade status.