Centre should not go ahead with SEZs: Prakash Karat

Special Correspondent

Government must consider stand of Left parties

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"Only Revolutionary Socialist Party totally opposed to SEZs"
Differences between Left partners over Land Reforms Bill can be sorted
out through bi-lateral discussions
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KOLKATA: The Centre should not go ahead with further approvals for the
setting up of SEZs till it comes up with a clear-cut understanding of
the changes that have to be made, Communist Party of India (M) general
secretary Prakash Karat said here on Friday.

He added that the Government must take into consideration the stand of
the Left parties."We have already made clear our stand [on the matter]"
he said. The matter was being referred to the Group of Ministers by the
Left parties, which had earlier submitted a note containing their views
to the Centre.

The SEZ issue will figure at the meeting of the CPI (M)'s Polit Bureau
in Delhi as would the prevailing political situation in the country.

He did not think that the four Left parties were opposed to the SEZs per
se and it was only the Revolutionary Socialist Party, which was
"totally" opposed to them.

Mr. Karat who attended a meeting of the party's State Secretariat during
the day also said that the differences between the Left partners in West
Bengal over the proposed amendments to be brought to the West Bengal
Land Reforms [Amendment] Bill, 2006 could be sorted out through
bi-lateral discussions. The partners had failed to reach a consensus on
the issue at a meeting of the Left Front Committee here on Thursday.

Asked to comment on the matter veteran Marxist leader, Jyoti Basu,
admitted that "there are differences" between the different constituents
regarding the Bill and there is need for further talks separately with
the partners. "Only after these talks will it be decided whether
amendments can be made to the Bill" as had been proposed by the State
Government.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/10/stories/2007021004721200.htm