Tuesday, August 22 2006 10:54 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Terming as 'land reforms in reverse'the taking away of land from farmers for setting up Special Economic Zones, the CPI(M) yesterday(Aug 21, 2006)night said it would ask the UPA Government to do a 'rethinking' over the issue.

"The way thousands of acres of land is being taken from farmers by capitalists and big corporations makes us think that it is a case of land reforms in reverse", CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said while addressing a public meeting here.

"The SEZ's are being given several concessions, including tax incentives. It looks as if these zones are a state within a state," he said.

Karat also demanded that the UPA Government should first revise the petroleum pricing policy and also taxation structure before taking any decision on price hike.



"Expressing his opposition to a handful of capitalists earning big money in futures trading in essential commodities", Karat said.

"Failed to understand why the Government was not banning the trading even after Congress President Sonia Gandhi expressing her concerns on the issue," he said.

Karat also said the women's reservation bill should be brought in Parliament.

"We will then see which party supports it and which party opposes it", he said.

The CPI(M) leader also sought a separate legislation to control fee and admissions in private professional colleges.