Sharad demands scrapping of decision inviting SEZ

Patna, Jan 25: Concerned at the plight of farmers JD(U) national president Sharad Yadav today opposed the Special Economic Zones(SEZ) policy and asked the Centre to scrap the related decision as ''it would result in the biggest ever scam''.

Mr Yadav told newspersons here that revenue, food security and growth rate would be affected with the SEZ ''which is not at all required'' in the country.

''The SEZ is going to be the largest scam as corporate sector and land mafia are eyeing the fertile land of farmers. Being a democratic country and with an open market, India has achieved a growth rate of 8.5 per cent through the traditional industries and SEZ would be insignificant here,'' he added.

The Centres move to set up SEZ on fertile land would affect the food security of the country as the process to bring the SEZ on the ground was on in Punjab and Haryana among other areas. He said the country was procuring 84 per cent of the total wheat from Punjab, Haryana and West Uttar Pradesh and 54 per cent of paddy from these places. Farmers would lose their fertile land as well as their livelihood with the SEZ, he remarked and appealed to political parties to continue their movement against it.

Mr Yadav said the group of ministers constituted by the UPA government for establishing SEZ could be countered through strong agitation by farmers, people and political parties.

The Janata Dal(United) leader, however, added that he was not against industrialisation but opposed acquiring fertile land for such purposes. ''Acquisition of fertile land either for SEZ or for industrialisation should be the last option,'' he added.

The advocated giving due share to the farmers in the industries set up on their land for ensuring them a comfortable life. He also suggested framing strong and effective compensation policy for farmers losing their land for either SEZ or industrialisation. He alleged that the government had acquired farmers' land near Delhi at the rate of Rs one per sq ft while it sold the same for crores of rupees.

Mr Yadav further suggested utilising the industrial land of closed units instead of acquiring fertile land.

To a query he said the JD(U), which is ruling in Bihar, would not allow creation of SEZ in the state.

UNI