Inquiry sought into 'fake' associations

Puducherry, Sep 17 (UNI) Puducherry Munnetra Congress (PMC) Founder-Leader P Kannan today demanded an inquiry into the alleged registration of fake handloom weavers' associations in the cooperative sector here.

Addressing a newsconference today, Mr Kannan said an inquiry could bring to light several ''irregularities''.

He said as Cooperative Minister he had ordered purchase of clothes from handloom weavers through Pontex for distribution to the poor during festival seasons, under the Free Garment Scheme. He wondered as to how the system changed, compelling the government to purchase clothes from open market.

Welfare Minister Kandasamy had said the decision to supply ployester clothes was following complaints from legislators over the quality of the clothes purchased from Pontex.

However, weavers had said they were not responsible for the fall in quality but the brokers. The government should find out the ''erring'' brokers, he demanded.

He sought to end the confusion over the supply of handloom before Deepavali.

UNI