NEW DELHI: Former Prime Minister V.P. Singh has asked the United Progressive Alliance Government to come out with detailed guidelines on the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and supported the Janata Dal (United) demand for an all-party meeting on the subject. Leaders of several political parties have already expressed reservations about the policy.

Mr. Singh, who has recently formed the Jan Morcha — a 22-party alliance in Uttar Pradesh — said if his coalition came to power in the State that is going to the polls early next year, then it would scrap the SEZ policy and return the acquired lands to farmers.

Just as he had suggested on the Other Backward Caste reservation issue, he said there should be a national referendum on the SEZ policy. "Let the nation decide on both the issues."

Strongly opposing acquisition of prime agriculture lands for SEZs, he said a regulatory authority should be formed for framing the guidelines and as a monitoring agency.

The authority should include representatives from farmers organisations and social activists fighting for farmers' cause. It should oversee the SEZ locations and the quantum of land that was being acquired.

"Till this is done there should be a six-month moratorium on the SEZ policy," he said. In any case, the first allotment for SEZ should be wastelands. Double cropland should be protected under all circumstances.

Seeking amendment to the Land Acquisition Act against acquisition of land for private parties, Mr. Singh said Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar had said fertile land should not be taken away. "We want this in writing."

He said the Reserve Bank of India, the International Monetary Fund and the farmers were all shouting against SEZs. "Village after village has been taken up. In every village there are 25 to 30 per cent labour. Where will they go? There is no package for them. No rehabilitation ."

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