TDP to step up stir against SEZs:Naidu

Hyderabad, Sep 25 (UNI) The main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TP) in Andhra Pradesh will intensify its stir against Special Economic Zones (SEZ) promoted by the Congress government by ousting poor farmers from their precious land, Party President N Chandrababu Naidu said today.

Addressing the party's farmers wing here, Mr Naidu said the TDP, if voted to power, would review the land acquisition process for SEZs, if needed.

Mr Naidu, who is also United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) convenor questioned why the state government should involve itself in acquisition of land for private players from farmers and perpetuate a ''new type of Zamindari system''.

''The TDP will stage a relentless struggle in support of farmers'', he said.

The Congress government had colluded with private industrialists and was acquiring thousands of acres of land from farmers at cheap prices, the TDP chief charged, adding that the state government should instead ask private industrialists to directly negotiate with the farmers after organising themselves into a cooperative society whenever lands were needed for industrial projects.

The Centre's loan waiver scheme had not benefitted all eligible farmers as the banks had made ''book adjustment'' towards payment of old dues, he claimed, and promised to ensure loan waiver for all farmers.

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