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SEZs good, but keep off farm lands, says
BJP.
BJP comes out in the open and supports special economic zones.
BY OUR POLITICS CORRESPONDENT
October 10, 2006
SEZs are welcome. Says who?
BJP, who else? The party has come out in support of Special Economic Zones terming them as contributors to national growth. But with a clause, though. The party is against SEZ mushrooming on farm lands.
The BJP undoubtedly has an agenda here. Farmers and farmlands have to be protected, come hat may. The party is trying to woo farmers with a high-pitched attack on the Centre for its handling of the agricultural sector, said it was also studying complaints over SEZs.
The party which is in power in eight states clearly believes that SEZs would propel India towards economic growth. Following a meeting of a special committee on SEZs, senior leader M Venkaiah Naidu said that the SEZ policy was a brainchild of his party. Added Naidu: "We in principle are in favour of SEZs. ... SEZs will lead to an increase in the GDP.”.
While maintaining that SEZs would also help prevent manpower export from India, Naidu said n Tuesday that : “We are open-minded... we favour SEZs. We believe there should be simultaneously no scope of abuse while setting up such zones.”
The party has also said it was not in favour of acquisition of fertile land for creating SEZs. Concerns about regional balance and the role of real estate developers are also being assessed and the BJP is expected to submit its report on SEZs to party chief Rajnath Singh in the first week of November.
Furthermore, the party has also lined up dates to hold parleys with industry bodies like CII and FICCI. The BJP leaders will also meet up with ryots to know their take on Special Economic Zones.
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