JD(U) to fight against 'anti-farmer' SEZ laws

New Delhi, Sep 22: Terming the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) as the ''biggest real estate scam'' in the country, Janata Dal (United) (JD-U) president Sharad Yadav today said his party would launch an agitation against it.

''These SEZs are like a country within the country with different set of labour laws,'' he told mediapersons here, adding that huge tracts of agricultural lands were going to be offered to the real estate promoters on a platter, along with multiple benefits and incentives.

''Once they were given the land possession, these land developers-cum-promoters will uproot thousands of villagers from those area and there is no alternative plan for the rehabilitation of those uprooted people,'' Mr Yadav said.

Noting that if the Government was so keen on speedy economic development of the country, than why were these SEZs not being set up in the backward, remote and coastal areas, the JD-U chief said that the government was instead, handing over the highest yielding agricultural land to the promoters.

''Whether it is state governments or the Central, every one is keen on cashing on the real estate boom in the country,'' he added.

He said it is for this reason only, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday directed the commercial banks in the country to treat the SEZ developers and buyers of plots in these SEZ like those dealing in real estates.

Earlier, the RBI, in its report, held that the SEZs would cause imbalance in the country, where the investment from backward regions will move to SEZs, only creating regional tension and social upheaval, which will work against the national unity and integrity.

Mr Yadav said his party has decided to hold a massive rally on September 25 to protest setting up of SEZs and it was ready to fight against these ''anti-farmer'' laws to any extent.

UNI