The Hindu : National : CPI, CPI(M) oppose move to open up agriculture

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Wednesday, Jul 12, 2006

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National

CPI, CPI(M) oppose move to open up agriculture

Special Correspondent

Say it will only aggravate the already deepening agrarian crisis

NEW DELHI: The Left parties on Tuesday opposed a reported move to take out agriculture and plantations from prohibited activities list and open them up for hundred per cent foreign direct investment through the automatic route.

Asking the United Progressive Alliance Government to desist from any such move, they said it should rescind any policy decision if taken on this score.

Reacting to a reported recommendation by a Group of Ministers headed by Agriculture Minister, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Polit Bureau said the Reserve Bank of India had asked the Government to clarify whether it had decided to change the FDI policy, permitting sensitive areas such as agriculture, plantation, real estate and transfer of shares to non-residents through the automatic route. "Such a decision will only aggravate the already deepening agrarian crisis in the country, which is marked by growing distress suicides and starvation deaths," the party said in a statement.

Further, producers of commercial crops, including plantations, severely suffered in the recent years due to liberalisation of trade policies in the areas. In Kerala, particularly, lakhs of people were facing pauperisation especially in areas producing coffee, pepper, cardamom etc.

In a separate statement, the CPI too expressed opposition to the reported decision.

The party said it not only disapproved the manner in which the UPA Government took crucial policy decision but also opposed such moves which would have an adverse impact on agriculture and plantation sector and ruin millions of farmers and planters.

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