Textile traders renew demand for offences cell

Textile traders of Surat have written to Chief Minister Narendra Modi reminding him of his promise to take steps to curb instances of vanishing companies.

The textile traders had met Modi during his visit to the city on May 30 and urged him to take steps to curb instances of vanishing firms.

They had demanded that a separate economic offences cell be started in the textile market area. In response, Modi had assured the traders that he would look into the matter.

A letter was also received by the traders from the chief minister's office a few days later, in which they were informed that the CM had directed the home department to look into their demands.

But, according to The Federation of Surat Textile Traders Association officials, no apparent steps have been taken yet to fulfil the demands.

The federation's vice president Devkishan Manghani, said: "When we had met Modi, he had assured us that he would look into our woes immediately. But, since no visible action has been taken to fulfil our demand, we decided to send a reminder to the chief minister."

"The textile industry is plagued by instances of vanishing firms. Local textile traders have lost more than Rs 100 crore in the last eight months on this account. This has created an atmosphere of mistrust that is hurting the industry," Manghani said.

"Our only demand is that a separate economic offences cell, under an officer of DCP-grade, be started in the textile market area. This cell would deal in cases of vanishing firms and help curb such instances," he added.

"Surat is considered the financial capital of Gujarat and contributes thousands of crores towards the government exchequer. We have been demanding the setting up of an economic offences cell for long, but the government does not appear keen to set up such a cell in Surat, even though such cells are in existence in all major cities in the country," he said.

"We have sent a reminder to the chief minister on Tuesday and, hopefully, steps will now be initiated to fulfil our demand. If not, we will travel to Gandhinagar and try to meet Modi and once more try to explain the problem to him," Manghani said.

Call for justice

• Traders had met Modi on May 30 and urged him to look into cases of vanishing firms
• They had demanded an economic offences cell in the textile market
• Modi had assured the traders that he would look into the matter
• A letter from Modi's office informed that the CM had directed the home department to look into the demands
• Federation of Surat Textile Traders Association says the CM's office is yet to fulfil the demands