JD (U) strongly opposes SEZs

Chennai, Jan 29 (UNI) The Janata Dal (United) in Tamil Nadu today strongly opposed the government's move to establish Special Economic Zones (SEZs) anywhere in the state as it would ''affect local people's interest''.

Party State President K Rajasekaran and Principal General Secretary D Rajagopal told newspersons after the conclusion of the party's state office bearers' meeting here that a resolution to this effect was adopted during the proceedings.

To express their protest against the establishment of SEZs in Tamil Nadu the party will hold state-wide protest meetings on April 28 in which JD (U) National President Sharad Yadav, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and others were expected to participate.

The meeting also opposed the number of multinational companies entering the retail sector as it would ''affect the interest of the small traders''.

They said the meeting expressed its deep concern over Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's attitude in not meeting the common people and instead giving audience to top industrialists.

Due to this, the public could not ventilate their grievances, the meeting claimed and appealed to Mr Karunanidhi to give ''public dharshan'' at least once in a week.

The meeting suggested the Tamil Nadu Government to constitute an expert panel comprising water experts, engineers and others concerned to find a solution to the vexed Cauvery, Mullaperiyar and Palar issues.

It also took strong exception to State PWD Minister Durai Murugan's reported remarks that if any adverse judgement against Tamil Nadu was given by the Cauvery River Water Disputes Tribunal, the sole responsibility would rest only with the AIADMK which ''changed the Tamil Nadu Government's advocates at Supreme Court when the case was at a crucial stage.'' The meeting demanded uniform education and introduction of special care programmes for the employees of private clinics and textile shops.

They also criticised the Tamil Nadu Government's move to hold re-elections to 98 wards of Chennai Corporation following the resignation of the Councillors as per the instruction of Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to put their papers following Madras High Court's split verdict on a batch of petitions filed by other political parties seeking re-poll.

Instead of Mr Karunanidhi and Local Administration Minister M K Stalin resigning, the government was going for byelections without even waiting for the verdict of the third judge of Madras High Court.

This set a bad precedent as the councillors were made scapegoats, they added.

UNI