The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Parties to launch joint struggle against SEZs

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Monday, Oct 20, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Parties to launch joint struggle against SEZs

Special Correspondent

Leaders of TD, TRS, Left and Praja Rajyam attend meeting

Lok Satta, CPI-ML (New Democracy), Janata Dal, Majlis Bachao Tehreek leaders attend the meeting
Meeting leaves out Nava Telangana Party; Congress, BJP and MIM leaders not invited

HYDERABAD: The new found relationship between the TDP, TRS, CPI and the CPI (M) manifested itself in a meeting of its leaders on Sunday when they decided to launch a combined struggle against forcible acquisition of land for Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and coastal corridor.

Also in the league were the Praja Rajyam, Lok Satta, CPI-ML (New Democracy), Janata Dal and Majlis Bachao Tehreek. Strangely, the Nava Telangana Party was omitted while the Congress, BJP and the Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) were not invited to the meeting held at Maqdoom Bhavan, the CPI State headquarters, where the decision was taken.

Dharnas planned

CPI State secretary K. Narayana said later that all the parties which took part in today’s meeting would stage dharna at three different centres against SEZs and coastal corridor next month. A concrete programme would be finalised in a few days.

Earlier, TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao suggested a detailed workshop to discuss the irregularities committed by the government in the name of acquiring land for SEZs. He claimed that 35 per cent of the land went into real estate business. Huge money was made out of the transactions.

Biggest scam: KCR

Mr. Rao alleged that people in the government were stakeholders in the SEZs which destroyed the living culture of local populations. The SEZs in the State represented the biggest scam in the country. They were promoted as no where else in the country, he added.

CPI (M) State secretary B.V. Raghavulu said private investors were directly acquiring land on behalf of the government which was a silent spectator. He demanded the government to convene an all-party meeting to evolve a comprehensive policy on land acquisition.

‘Will scrap deals’

Former TDP MP Lal Jan Basha said the government was acquiring land from farmers at a pittance and selling at an exorbitant rate.

PR spokesman P. Mitra said his party would scrap all deals and handover land from whom it was acquired if it was elected to power.

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