“I want to make it clear that the Left Front has unanimously decided to take over fallow and nonagricultural land for industry. But we will oppose anyone flouting the Left Front’s policy,” said CPI minister Nandagopal Bhattacharya.

The party is likely to prepare a note on several issues from land acquisition to setting up special economic zones after its central secretariat meeting in Delhi on Monday.

Bhattacharya said people have a right to know about the nature of land being taken over and there must be transparency, as even the Right to Information Act ensures that.

He was speaking at the “Kishan Banchao Samabesh” in the city, organised by Krishak Sabha, the CPI’s peasant wing.

Highlighting the way farmers have faced a crisis due to loss of agricultural land to industries, and especially with the way the Centre has taken up setting up of special economic zones , the speakers at the meeting criticised the Centre’s policies. They said if the state government went along the same path, there was no reason why it should not be opposed.