Surat weavers take out rally against 'police inaction' on vanishing firms

Weavers of Surat on Friday organised a vehicle rally to protest the inaction of the police department against vanishing firms.

Around 350-400 weavers participated in the rally which began at 10.45 am from the Umiya Mata Temple in Bhathena and ended at the Vanita Vishram Ground at 11.30 am.

Later the weavers made a representation to the district collector Pankaj Joshi and urged him to take steps to curb the instances of vanishing textile firms.

Weavers said that such cases were leading to losses of crores of rupees to the community.

Talking to media persons, the Federation of Gujarat Weavers Association (FOGWA) president Manu Patel said, "Almost 50 textile firms have vanished from Surat in the last six months, causing losses of Rs 70-80 crore to weavers. There is an atmosphere of mistrust in the industry."

"The instances of companies vanishing have increased in the last two-three months because the police have not taken any steps. We have made numerous representations to the police, but they seem to be least concerned," Patel said.

"We have demanded setting up of a separate economic offense cell, which would deal only the cases of vanishing firms," he said.

"We have also urged the collector to take steps to avoid harassment of weavers, which will also help create a proper business atmosphere," Patel said.

Police commissioner Vineet Kumar Gupta said, "The allegations of inaction levelled against us are untrue. We have taken steps against these firms and I assure you all steps will be taken in the future as well."

"I have told weavers that they should approach the police without any hesitation. In case of harassment at the police station, I have asked the weavers to come to me directly. But till date not a single FOGWA leader has approached me," Gupta said.

"Issuing false statements in the media or making bogus allegations against the police department is not the right thing to do. It sends wrong signals to the public. I again appeal weavers to approach the police without any fear and I assure that necessary steps will be taken against the guilty," the commissioner said.