Vanishing firms: Weavers to strike work tomorrow

Weavers in Surat will observe a token strike and organise a vehicle rally on Friday in protest against "inaction of police" against vanishing textile firms.

A decision to this effect was taken during the meeting of the steering committee of the Federation of Gujarat Weavers' Associations on Tuesday.

The federation president Manu Patel said, "The instances of vanishing textile firms have increased in the recent months. Weavers and traders have been duped of crores of rupees, but police have remained completely inactive. No steps have been taken against the cheats. The symbolic strike of June 11 is to protest this inaction of the police."

"We will also organise a scooter rally, which will commence at 10:30 am from Bhathena and culminate at Vanita Vishram Ground. We will meet the district collector and make a representation to him, requesting him to take steps to protect the weaving industry," Patel said.

Asked why they had decided to make the representation to the collector and not the police commissioner, Patel said, "In our opinion, the police commissioner is responsible for the inaction of the department. So there is no point in making the representation to him."

Salim Sheikh, a federation member, said, "The rally is to protest inaction of police. When we approached the police, but they do not even accept our complaints and behave as if we are the cheats. We have had enough of this. That is why we have decided to observe a symbolic strike and organise a rally on June 11. This will be a major show of strength," Sheikh said.

Sheikh dismissed reports that Cenvat (central value-added tax) had anything to do with the strike and rally.

"We are against Cenvat and it is our demand that it should be abolished. The strike and rally, however, are to protest police inaction and are not related in any manner to Cenvat," Sheikh said.

Sheikh said, "A delegation of the federation will meet the Union textiles minister Shankarsinh Vaghela in New Delhi on June 12. The delegation will apprise Vaghela of the prevailing situation in the powerloom industry and urge him to abolish Cenvat. We are confident that he will listen to us and do the needful in the interest of the powerloom industry."

"If weavers do not get a positive response from Vaghela, we will not hesitate to launch an agitation seeking abolition of Cenvat," Sheikh said.