To Goanet - In response to the Union Commerce Secretary's statement today that the Goa Govt has no locus standii to denotify the notified SEZs, the GMAS Convener Matanhy Saldanha spoke to the news media this evening in Panjim. The press statement is reproduced below.
For news of Union Commerce Secretary's position, see - http://tinyurl.com/292cu6 GMAS's Press Statement on Jan 2, 2008 - Goas Movement Against SEZs (GMAS) deplores the Union Governments stance on the 3 notified SEZs. It is now clear that the Union Governent has scant respect for the wishes of the people of Goa despite knowing the fact that the SEZs are not in the interest of the state of Goa, and that they have been opposed at all levels. Before going public on such serious issues, it is the bounden duty of the Government of India to verify the basis on which the SEZs were forwarded for approval in the first place. GMASs opposition to the SEZs is with the government of Goa, and it is the responsibility of the State government to respond to the Union government appropriately to get the notified SEZs scrapped. GMAS takes serious view of the brazen reaction of the Union Commerce secretary. Before adopting this autocratic posture, the Union Government should have clarified with the State government its reasons for recommending de-notification of the 3 notified SEZs. Perhaps the Union Government has gone into panic mode for it appears that there is much to hide at the Union level as well. GMAS wants to make it absolutely clear to the Goa government that we are not concerned with the decision of the Union government and it is for the Goa govt to make sure that the notified SEZs are scrapped along with all the other SEZs. GMAS would like to state that the people of Goa are not going to take this lying down. GMAS will meet on January 3rd to discuss the recent developments and to take appropriate action to the insensitive response of the Union government. Matanhy Saldanha Convener, GMAS January 2, 2008 ****** ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
