MANGALORE : In what could be termed as a surprise move, various pro-Hindu organizations staged a huge protest in front of the deputy commissioner’s office in the city recently to express their support to the ongoing movement launched by thousands of farmers against the proposed Special Economic Zone.

The organizations have also made a vehement demand to the state as well as the union governments to drop the SEZ and PCPIR projects proposed in Dakshina Kannada district. However, this surprise protest has also given room for doubts if at all it was any hint of the likely cancellation of the second phase of MSEZ and the PCPIR project and that whether the Sangh Parivar was planning to take credit for the same by now staging a protest.

Addressing the meeting, Moolachandra, district secretary of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangha while stating that he was not aware as to what extent the district would develop owing to MSEZ, added the only thing that was clear was that the project would render destitutes thousands of farmers who had adopted multi-cropping system. He further said the proposed PCPIR project would pose much danger to the health of the people and would do much harm to the very life and culture of the district.

Satyajith Suratkal of the Hindu Jagarana Vedike declared that the Vedike would not tolerate shifting of places of worship to facilitate the setting up of the MSEZ.

Jagadish Karanth, Convenor of the Swadeshi Jagaran Manch on the other hand described the SEZ as nothing but a real estate business wherein large tracts of lands were sold in the name of SEZ. Leaders of the BJP, VHP and other Sangh Parivar organizations, BMS, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh participated in the meeting apart from Madhukar Amin of Krishi Bhoomi Samrakshana Samithi, Vidya Dinker of Citizens’ Forum for Development, Gregory Patrao, Vice President of Bala gram panchayat and William D’Souza.

Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and VHP leader MB Puranik were also in the delegation that met the DC to submit a memorandum seeking dropping of the second phase of MSEZ and the PCPIR projects.

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