Vedike urges govt to drop II phase of MSEZ

The representatives of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), Hindu Jagarana Vedike (HJV), Bharathiya Kisan Sangh (BKS), Akhila Bharathiya Vidyarthi Parishat (ABVP), Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM) besides Krishi Bhoomi Samrakshana Vedike addressed the protesters.

BMS representative Vasanth Yeyyadi said the SEZ is aimed at taking India into the dark folds of colonialism once again. “As the law itself indicates, an SEZ is a foreign territory within the country. In the name of generating employment it just kills the jobs of those in the farming community and cottage industries,” he said.

Terming SEZ as “a hen that lays golden eggs,” BKS divisional secretary Moolachandra said about 50,00,000 hectare agricultural land is being converted into industrial land in the name of the special economic zones.

ABVP National Secretary Ravikumar criticised “the double standards of Communists” regarding the SEZs, stating that West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya permitted SEZs in his State when his party leadership opposed such initiatives.
“Home Minister P Chidambaram (when he was the Finance Minister) himself had stated that the country would incur Rs 1,00,000 crore loss with the emergence of SEZs,” he noted.

The event convener Suvrath Kumar said Mangalore is struggling to get at least 10 crore litres of water everyday which it requires for its regular consumption.

In such a situation, how can it provide 20 crore lts of water to the MSEZ and 44 crore lts of water to the PCPIR on a daily basis? he questioned.

Madhukar Amin of Krishi Bhoomi Samrakshana Samithi said though a central team did not permit acquiring of 2,035 acres of land for the MSEZ II phase, the authorities connected to it are misguiding the people by giving a wrong picture.

Satyajith Surathkal of HJV, Jagadish of SJM, Subrahmanya Holla of RSS and Rohinaksha Shirlalu were present on the occasion. A memorandum was submitted to the Deputy Commissioner.