Bardhan opposes sending JPC to Nandigram

Gwalior, Mar 20 (UNI) Opposing the demand for sending a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) to West Bengal's Nandigram, CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan today said such a move would set off an avoidable trend in this democracy.

''When 3,000 people were killed in Gujarat, there was a protest against sending a JPC there. Now, those very people who protested are raising a hue and cry over the death of 16 people,'' he told journalists in response to a question about senior BJP leader L K Advani's demand for sending a JPC to Nandigram.

Comrade Bardhan was in Madhya Pradesh to attend a two-day meeting of the state executive.

Pointing out that a JPC was no investigating agency, he added that West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya had accepted the responsibility and decided on a CBI inquiry.

''The UPA's National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is benefiting only 28 per cent people and that excludes the truly needy. Those profiting are those who have had themselves included in the Below Poverty Line list despite being prosperous. Though 130 more districts have been included in the scheme, the funds sanctioned were already paltry,'' the CPI leader added.

Opposing SEZs, he alleged that they were solely benefiting industrialists as the 1,000-10,000-acre plots far exceeded plots allotted earlier.

''Our alliance partners argue that SEZs exist in China as well but that country has only six not 600. The Centre should draft a comprehensive policy vis-a-vis SEZs and they should not come up over fertile land. The scheme to have a chemicals hub in Nandigram -- a densely-populated area -- was scrapped after my protest,'' he claimed.

Replying to another query about EPF, Mr Bardhan said that UPA -- with his exception -- and NDA shared an opinion about it.

''Withdrawing support to the government is no solution but we continue to exert pressure. The tendering policy is making food products the victims of inflation. I am against amending the labour law as that would benefit capitalists. My party is committed to bring in the Women's Reservation Bill,'' he added.

UNI