Bhopal, Feb 5: Expressing concern regarding the interests of small investors and heavy investment by foreign institutional investors in the share and capital markets, the Bharatiya Janata Party Investors' Cell today said that a four-point protest memorandum carrying 10 lakh signatures from various states would be submitted to Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram at Delhi on February 25.

''The share market is definitely bullish but the related benefit has not accrued to the country's 10 crore small investors but to foreign investors and speculators. Insecurity has increased among small investors. Foreign financial institutions have taken control of the market and are indulging in wanton profiteering,'' Cell Convenor Arun Singh alleged to reporters here.

The immovable property business' situation was same as a result of which it was no longer safe for small investors to invest in the capital market and immovable property. The Centre's anomalous economic policies were to blame. During the United Progressive Alliance's tenure, a constant attempt was made to withdraw concessions to small investors and wage-earning employees, he added.

''Foreign institutional investment (FII) has raised national security questions. At an Interpol conference, the Prime Minister's security advisor himself expressed apprehension that terrorist organisations were investing in the stock market. Ironically, no Permanent Account Number card or identity card are necessary for pumping foreign investors' money while a farmer has to produce a PAN card,'' Singh said.

The signature campaign began in Madhya Pradesh today and the first person to sign was Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The demands included re-initiation of the Income Tax Act's Section 80 L, enhancing the related concession limit to Rs 20,000, setting up of a Real Estate Regulatory Authority, issuance of a white paper by the Centre on investment through FII, doing away with compulsory PAN cards for farmers, students, housewives and senior citizens who are not in the tax net and wish to open DMAT accounts.

BJ to start agitation over drought

By Our Staff Reporter

Bhopal, Feb 5: Alleging that the Madhya Pradesh Government has failed to provide adequate relief in drought-affected districts and curb migration of farmers, the Bharatiya Janshakti announced staging sit-ins at various district headquarters.

State BJ President Ashok Tripathi told reporters here today that BJ President Uma Bharti would lead the agitation at Basai in Datia district. Besides 37 declared drought-affected districts, demonstrations would be staged in Indore, Sehore and Jabalpur.

He said situation was bad in these districts but had not been declared drought-affected. Tripathi said Bundelkhand was most affected by drought and peasants and labourers were forced to migrate in the search of employment. Besides, they were not getting the benefit of central schemes like the National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme due to rampant corruption.

He said the government must rein in corruption so that intended people get benefit of central schemes. He alleged that the government had announced some tehsils as drought affected due to political considerations although there was no such need. This was injustice to districts affected by drought. The government has declared 151 tehsils in 37 districts as drought affected and begun relief measures. The government has demanded a package of Rs 24,000 crore from the Centre to tackle the situation.

An indefinite sit-in was started by the BJP under the leadership of state BJP President Narendra Singh Tomar in Sagar divisional headquarters.