Protect farmers affected by SEZs, says Sindhia

Staff Correspondent

Surendra Mohan-led faction of JD(S) to organise protest on February 9 A
nationwide protest will be organised on February 9

HUBLI: The Surendra Mohan-led faction of Janata Dal (Secular) will
organise a nationwide agitation on February 9 seeking steps to safeguard
the interests of farmers whose lands will be acquired for Special
Economic Zones (SEZs).

Addressing presspersons here on Monday, former Minister and Janata Dal
(Secular) leader P.G.R. Sindhia said that apart from staging the protest
and submitting a memorandum, the party would be presenting an
"Alternative Approach Paper" with suggestions to solve the problem. Mr.
Sindhia clarified that the party was not against acquisition of land for
industrial growth through the formation of SEZs. However, certain issues
should be addressed to protect the farmers, he said.

Alternative approach

So the party had undertaken the task to prepare an alternative approach
paper to solve the problem and had involved various non-governmental
organisations in the work. On February 9, the paper would be presented
to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he said. The Centre was acquiring
fertile lands from farmers without giving them alternative lands. All
these issues would be tackled in the paper, he said.

On which faction was the true Janata Dal (Secular), he said that as per
the directions of the Election Commission, the related documents had
been submitted to it and it would take a final decision on the issue.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/24/stories/2007012406730300.htm