MSEZ row: Youths attempt immolation

A group of students and their supporters (trained by MSEZ and who were promised jobs) have been staging a protest against the MSEZ for a long time now, as the MSEZ has failed to provide jobs to the persons in the project affected areas as reportedly promised to them.

The youths who poured kerosene on them in front of a large gathering and in front of media are Lokesh (24), a resident of Kalavar and Kumar (30), a resident of Kinnigoli.

However, the police quickly thwarted the move by the protesters and took them away.
As announced by the protesters under the aegis of “Permude, Bajpe, Kalavaru Samyutka Hitarakshana  Samithi,” started their dharna in front of the MSEZ office in Urwa demanding jobs. After some time, Lokesh, one of the protesters, said that he would sacrifice his life for the cause, and immediately he poured kerosene which he had brought in a can, on his head. At this juncture, Kumar, another protester, joined Lokesh, after shouting slogans against the MSEZ. “The MSEZ officials have cheated us with fake assurances,” he said.

Among the many protests the project affected family members staged, the last one was staged on January 5 in the same venue. However, they withdrew their protest after the MSEZ officials reportedly promised to take a decision by January 7.

After holding a meeting with the leaders, the protesters said they will decide their future course of action after looking at the outcome of the meeting scheduled to be held on January 29.  It is said that only 38 youth out of the 230, who have completed training at Karnataka Polytechnic, have been provided jobs at the MSEZ and the others are jobless. Many more are undergoing training.

Samithi Bhujanga Shetty, Bajarang Dal leaders Sharan Pumpwell, Shivandanda Mendon, VHP leader Jagadish Shenava were present.

When contacted, MSEZ Chief Operating Officer A G Pai said that the Samithi members too would be invited to the meeting to be held on January 29. Stating that the Samithi members gave a very short notice of picketing (on Monday evening), he said he was optimistic at arriving at an amicable solution in the January 29 meeting wherein all stakeholders of MSEZ would be present including the representatives from the Government.

To a query, he said the MSEZ has spent Rs 7.5 crore on training the youth and it is working out a permanent solution.