JD(S) faction oppose MNC's entering agriculture

Bangalore, Jun 28 (UNI) The National Executive of Janata Dal(S) Surendra Mohan faction today strongly opposed the Union Government's policy on corporatisation of agriculture, which threatened over 160 million farmers and agricultural workers.

Addressing newspersons after the executive meeting held here today, party president Surendra Mohan said the Executive discussed the issue at length and felt that the Union Government's decision to allow Multinational Corporations (MNC's) into agricultural sector would destroy the livelihoods of millions of people.

The National Executive, which also passed a resolution against the corporatisation of agriculture sector, noted that MNC's engaged in agriculture would push over 60 million farmers who held less than two hectares out of their livelyhood. The Corporations would introduce mechanisation in a big way thereby rendering 100 millions of agricultural workers jobless, it said.

The Executive also felt that the recent decision of Centre to sanction 30 new Special Economic Zones (SEZ)'s, with a projected investment of Rs 35,000 would not help to generate jobs. "The decision of the UPA government to sanction SEZ's across the country is nothing but a fraud committed on the Indian economy and JD(S) resolves to expose it and mobilise people support to resist it," he said.

Mr Mohan said the party also reviewed the political situation at the national level and felt that both Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party were substantially losing their support base.

In its resolutions, the party welcomed the emergence of Bahujan Samaj Party, which had led to the decline of the two national parties in Uttar Pradesh. "Majority secured by BSP, a party of most downtrodden masses, in UP state assembly elections has to be welcomed wholeheartedly," it said.

UNI