Raj Babbar cries foul against land acquisitions for SEZs

Chandigarh, Sep 7 (UNI) Raising his voice against the proposed Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Jan Morcha president and veteran film actor Raj Babbar today demanded a fair deal for the farmers whose land holdings were being acquired to set up SEZs in the northern states.

Mr Babbar, who was earlier arrested along with former Prime Minister VP Singh during the agitation rally in Uttar Pradesh, said at a press conference here that the Jan Morcha would continue its ''struggle'' against the acquisition of agricultural land by the big companies in various states.

''I am not against the development as such but not at the cost of farmers whose lands are being acquired at throw away prices in the name of development in connivance with ruling politicians,'' he said.

Dubbing the corporate sector the new ''Zamindars'' of the modern India, Mr Babbar demanded an open debate on the procedures being adopted to acquire the farmers' land.

He said his party looked forward to an alliance with like-minded political and social fronts to carry on their cry against ''the forcefull land acquisitions''.

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