Citizens’ Research Collective on SEZ

Mangalore, november 27, 2007: People opposing the Special Economic Zone in the district got a boost when former home minister and MLA P G R Sindhia declared his support for the cause. Addressing Bahujan Samaj Party workers at the party workers’ convention at Government Employees’ Hall on Monday, Sindhia said that BSP opposed the setting up of SEZs. Industries should be set up but not by using any agricultural land. The Union government is approving a large number of SEZs in each state, he said.

The employees will not have any security as the owners are exempted from all the laws. “I cannot make out the difference between British rule and SEZ policy,” he said, and demanded a discussion on SEZs in the country.

He said that though the government had declared a waiver on loans, the number of farmers committing suicide had not stopped. A solution to this has to be found, for which a proper economic scheme for rural people has to be brought out, he said.

The disparity between the poor and rich is increasing, which will finally lead to a revolution and may affect the people, he said.

BSP is working for a society which is free of caste and religion. The party believes in brotherhood and in a society free from any problem and harassment. It is the only party which asks to shed differences in caste and religion, unlike others which base their politics on religion and caste. BSP has a bright future in the state, he said.

Earlier, speaking to reporters, Sindhia said he had welcomed the rebellion in the Janata Dal (S) led by former minister M P Prakash, but denied that he would attend the meeting convened by Prakash on November 28.

He said the JD(S) does not have any future in the state, and that it would be better if the rebel faction joined the BSP. He blamed the JD(S) and BJP for corruption in the administration over the last 20 months. All this will be revealed by the JD(S) and BJP leaders themselves during their blame game, he said.

He held Deve Gowda responsible for converting the party into a family party. He has no principles and wants power to remain only in and around his house, he added.

Source: The Times of India