BJP says not opposed to SEZ in wastelands

New Delhi, Jan 4: The BJP today opposed setting up of Special Economic Zones in fertile agricultural land but clarified that it was not against locating these zones in barren areas and wastelands.

BJP President Rajnath Singh told reporters after the establishment of the party's Central Election Room that the BJP had clearly articulated that it favoured promotion of industrial exports using barren areas and wastelands in view of the food shortage. ''We can not afford to have an industry at the cost of food security,'' Mr Singh, who was Agriculture Minister in the previous NDA regime, said.

He said food production in the country was not surplus unlike the previous decade and the country was presently importing foodgrains to meet its needs.

About the anger of farmers against the acquisition of agricultural land for SEZs, Mr Singh said the government should understand the ''emotional attachment of the farmers towards their lands''.

On the Nithari serial killings, Mr Singh said the party's Uttar Pradesh unit had announced an agitational programme.

''I am also at a loss to understand the hesitation on the part of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav to visit Nithari vilaage and console the parents the victims,'' he added.

The Centre should have initiated steps for a probe after the ghastly events came to light, Mr Singh said.

UNI