Mangalore, February 5, 2008: A conclave of the RSS and BJP leaders from coastal region was held on city’s outskirts on Monday to decide their stand on the Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ) project.

The meeting assumes significance in the background of Farmers’ rights assertion rally’s deadline for political parties to spell out their stand on MSEZ project ending on Feb 13. The BSP, SP and Communists had vowed to back farmers protesting against MSEZ, while Congress and BJP remained tight-lipped.

The presence of MSEZ Managing Director I S N Prasad and Chief Executive Officer A G Pai in the conclave held at entrepreneur-cum-educationist Nitte Vinay Hegde’s beach-side bungalow in Mukka has raised eyebrows. Nagarika Seva Trust President K Somnath Nayak could not help wondering why MSEZ promoters were invited to brief RSS and BJP leaders when the Sangh Parivar had publicly expressed its objection to the SEZ projects.

“Swadeshi Jagaran Manch, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh and Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangha which together constitute Sangh Parivar had declared that SEZs were anti-farmer and would render many homeless,” Somnath Nayak recollected. I S N Prasad when contacted told this website’s newspaper that he was not aware of any decision taken by the RSS and BJP leaders at the conclave. “We were invited to clarify certain issues, which we did. We will go anywhere, wherever clarifications are required.”

“The conclave did not take any decision on MSEZ project,” BJP party sources claimed. Though the RSS and BJP leaders refused to comment, a series of events unfolding so far, have dropped broad indications on the next step of RSS leaders. `Aseema’, the mouthpiece of the RSS, carried an article denouncing the SEZ project. A few days ago, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajarang Dal submitted a memorandum urging MSEZ CEO A G Pai to respect the sentiments of entire Hindu community.

A delegation led by VHP leader Prof M B Puranik submitted a memorandum, objecting the shifting of the historical Sri Benkinatheshwara temple at Kalavar close to Bala project. He also urged for preservation of ‘Daivasthanas’ like Shree Doomavathi Daivastana in the area.The memorandum submitted also urged the MSEZ to preserve land near the temple, temple’s `theerthakere’ (holy pond) and residences of priests, hereditary managing trustees.

“Sooner or later they must decide, as our decision not to vote for parties in favour of MSEZ cannot be ignored with elections round the corner,” Nayak informs.

Source: NewIndPress.com