SEZ to be raised in Parliament if Centre fails to amend it: Brinda

Ranchi, Apr 10 (UNI) Alleging that the Centre was following the recommendations of a 'group of ministers' for the implementation of Special Economic Zone(SEZ), CPI(M) polit bureau member and party MP Brinda Karat today said the party was against it.

Talking to reporters here, Ms Karat said that party would raise the issue in the parliament if union government fails to amend the existing SEZ policy.

Stressing the need of an amendment in the existing Land Acquisition Policy Act, 1894, Ms Karat said it was anti-farmers and would deprive them from getting proper benefit of the SEZ.

Ms Karat said tax rebate was also being given to industrial houses on the name of SEZ which was not right adding that land allotment should not exceed 2000 hectares.

Recently the government had limited the size of land allotment to 5000 acres.

Ms Karat said the concerned states should monitor that labour polies were not affected due to SEZ.

Advocating the need to strengthen the public distribution system of the country Ms Karat said special measures should be taken in this direction.

The CPM leader said that government should also make it clear about its wheat procurement strategies.

Earlier, party's state secretary Gyan Shankar Majumdar said that party would launch state-wide agitation from May 6 to 20 against SEZ policy.

He also said a part of the agitating party members would go from door to door to unite retailers against the retail outlets of multi-national companies in the state, adding that it would also be focussed on proper implementation of nrega, strengthening of PDS.

UNI