Scrap SEZ Act: CPI(ML)

Bangalore, May 22 (UNI) Accusing the Centre of usering in Corporate Landlordism in the country the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) today demanded scrapping of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Act, 2005 as it was anti farmer.

CPI-ML General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya talking to newsmen here also urged for abolition of Land Acquisition Act 1894.

In the name of industrial development, vast areas of fertile land had been acquired throwing the farmers to streets.

Mr Bhattacharya alleged that "the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government has betrayed the people by not keeping up its promise to stop farmers' suicide and starvation deaths before coming to power." He said that the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) has remained the UPA's showpiece legislation as it had remained more on paper. Because of bureaucratic procedure only a few people were actually getting employment as compared to the previous food for work schemes.

He said that even the DMK government in Tamil Nadu has failed to keep up its promise of allotting two acres of cultivable land to the poor in rural areas.

Mr Bhattacharya alleged that a number of innocent people were killed in fake encounters in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.

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