Employment generating policies needed: CPI (M)

Gulbarga, Dec 3 (UNI) Communist Party of India (Marxist) Central Secretariat Member Nilotpal Basu today said mere GDP growth will not make India a developed nation because what is needed was 'employment generating' policies.

Talking to newspersons here, he said the Centre should evolve policies which ensures employment to youth and leads to uplift the downtrodden.

Expressing his resentment over Opposition BJP's behaviour in the House, Mr Basu alleged that ''BJP was not raising people-oriented issues like price rise of essential commodities.'' Referring to farmers' suicide, Mr Basu stressed the need for a new agriculture policy. '' There is a need to overhaul the Farm Policy,'' he said.

Replying to a question, Mr Basu clarified that the CPI (M) would not seek BJP's support in opposing the anti-people policies of the Union government.

On establishment of Special Economic Zones (SEZ), Mr Basu opined that it should be aimed at developing industry and not real estate businesses as also tax benefits given should be reviewed.

Replying to another question over the controversy in West Bengal over land acquisition by the State government under the SEZ policy for Tata Motors, on which the Trinamool Congress created uproar in the Assembly, Mr Basu clarified that the land owners 'voluntarily' handed over their lands to the government for SEZ and denied that they were forced to give up their lands.

''The displaced people will be rehabilitated and justice will be done to all,'' he added.

Expressing apprehension over allowing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the retail sector, Mr Basu argued that FDI in the retail sector would be detrimental to traders. However, he was non-committal to whether the CPI(M) would allow FDI in the state.

Mr Basu said negotiation with the Maoists was not possible unless they give up violence.

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