FOPL is such an important issue: Siddharth Kalhans

 FOPL is such an important issue that there appears to be agreement among all the political parties on similar processes:

Siddharth Kalhans, Principal Correspondent, Business Standard, Lucknow

https://youtu.be/VyRSYNf65Rs

SIDDHARTH KALHANS at Public Dialogue on Children’s Nutritional rights and Package food Labelling on 2 December,2021 at Diamond Hotel, #Varanasi

Thank you Lenin ji,  Shruti ji, Shabana and all the friends who have sat here for listening to weighty matters for a long time and since you must have realized that there is no need to repeat them again and again. Possibly some among the speakers have said there should be a boycott of packaged foods, which is not the intention of this programme. We are not opposed to packaged foods, nor can we do this. As many things as been stated within the requirements, packaged foods are required in a similar mode; the only question is what is contained in packaged foods - should it be prominently displayed, should it be told in larger fonts, and why should it also be told? It has been told and at the beginning of the deliberation, Vandana Shah, Arvind ji, and Lenin ji clarified many of the things while moderating the sessions. Sugar, salt, and fat cause hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, which create other diseases, so you should be aware of how much of each you are eating, it is your responsibility to do so. Invite diseases or eat things that are less likely to cause them. One most beautiful thing about today's public dialogue is that we did not even expect to be able to start a process so easily, thanks to the organizers. Good news for the organizers, almost all the political parties with a significant role in Uttar Pradesh participated in the ‘Public Dialogue’. All parties, including the BSP, Samajwadi Party, SBSP, Congress and BJP, agree on one point that why it’s inside the packet and its contents should be clearly stated on the front label. Moreover, some parties went right ahead, which I considered to be a good start as in the last session of the public dialogue, MLC Ashutosh Sinha ji even promised that if his party forms a government after the assembly elections, a resolution would be tabled in its first cabinet meeting and passed for the passage of FOPL, which I found very positive. As far as I know, everyone was in agreement on this, and I hope that in the coming time, the process, which started today in Varanasi, will also be held in Uttar Pradesh. During elections, many issues are raised, and parties make too many promises

While many things are included in the election manifesto, the FOPL is such an important issue that there appears to be agreement among all the parties on similar processes. I think there will also be a consensus in Lucknow if it starts there. It is logical to expect that all parties will include in their manifesto that this negotiation process should start everywhere and be agreed upon. This is expected to happen in the coming days, as there is such a thing that is beneficial to everyone and does not harm anyone

In the interests of the people, not a paise of the Government's exchequer has to be spent. Assuming a similar process starts in Lucknow, if it starts in other important cities in UP and if other leaders are included, then this point will definitely be included in the manifesto when it is drafted. Today, if the car was started, it would be in gear, its gear should be continually changed, it should also come at full speed. I would like to say on behalf of media that many among us did not know about this until Dr Lenin and his associates had made us aware of this, many things were not known, but today it might be clear. The way you obtained the information today, if it starts with our friends in the media, however, if they know about it, only then will they tell you, otherwise, if they don't know, then what will they tell you.

Media friends should be made aware that they should know the salt, sugar, and fat content of any food items they consume, whether it is biscuits, mixtures, Maggie, or any other food item. Then they can start writing about it so that pressure is created, pressure from you, pressure from the people. A similar 'Dialogue' should be launched in other cities of the state and similar media awareness sessions should be organized. I believe this process will begin in the coming days. We should also tell them why we are running this campaign and why you need to step up this campaign so that there is a need to continuously push what is called hammering, and then the car will reach its destination. Thank you so much for coming here.