Left parties chalking out plans to counter agitation

Bangalore, May 27 (UNI) The Communist Party of India (Marxist) Polit bureau member Sitaram Yechury, today said the Left Parties in West Bengal were chalking out plans to counter the agitation against establishment of Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Nandigram.

Delivering a speech on ''West Bengal, Nandigram Issue and Present Political Situation' organised by CPM Bangalore unit Mr Yechury said the protest by Trinamool Congress and Marxist-Leninist, indirectly supported by Congress, was uncalled for.

The situation in Nandigram will continue to be tense till the local body elections in West Bengal since the agitators want to take political mileage. However, plans have been drawn to counter the agitation after the election.''The protest is a political challenge to attack CPI and CPM and it would be met soon'', he added.

Strongly defending the West Bengal Government's move to establish SEZ, he said for Economic development of a country, industrialisation was very important.

Mr Yechury said the compensation were paid at market price to more than 12,000 farmers of the total 16,000 families from whom 1,000 acres of land was acquired for SEZ in Nandigram.

Mr Yechury alleged that since last 30 years, Trinamool Congress, which was a breakaway group of Congress, was against industrialisation.

Replying to a question, he said Nandigram was selected by the Centre for the establishment of a Chemical hub.

He said the CPM had raised objection with the Centre regarding the utilisation of only 25 per cent of SEZ land for factory and tax waiver for industries. The party wanted utilisation of at least 50 per cent of the land and imposition of taxes.

UNI