GPCC demands scrapping of SEZs

PANAJI: Joining the opposition to the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the state, ruling Congress Goa unit chief Fransisco Sardinha on Saturday demanded scrapping of all the SEZs and review of the policy in this regard.

"The Congress oppose all the SEZs in the present format and wishes that government should denotify all SEZs in the state," Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Fransisco Sardinha told reporters here.

Interestingly, Congress' demand came few hours after chief minister Digambar Kamat met anti-SEZ group led by Mathany Saldanha and BJP leaders Manohar Parrikar and Shripad Naik promising them to take stand on the issue by January two.

"Kamat requested us to defer the agitation till January 2 as he will be declaring government's stand on the entire issue that day," Saldanha said.

Saldanha led Goa's Movement Against SEZs (GMAS) had sparked controversy in the state when they requested the tourists to leave the state by December 28 as anti-SEZ agitation may take ugly turn.

The state government was forced to initiate trouble shooting operations in the matter as the statement came on the eve of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Goa visit.

Following Singh's two-day visit, chief minister had called anti-SEZ activists for a dialogue this morning. "We will wait for the chief minister's stand on January 2," Saldanha told reporters after the meeting.