Ginners strike evokes lukewarm response in Gujarat

Ahmedabad, Nov 25 (UNI) The two-day strike call given by ginning units across the country, evoked a lukewarm response in Gujarat on the first day today with only Saurashtra units downing shutters.

Around 50 per cent units remained closed in Saurashtra region, amid Union Textile Minister Shankersinh Vaghela's refusal to meet ginners demand. There are around 1,100 units in the state.

Mr Vaghela said, ''The ginners made good profit last year. They should not object if the farmers are getting high minimum support price (MSP) for their cotton produce.'' Seven ginning associations, spread across Haryana, Maharashtra, Punjab, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, have given the strike call, after the government raised the MSP of cotton 40 per cent in September, as they said it was not affordable.

The members of All Gujarat Cotton Ginners Association (AGCGA) are also expected to submit memorandums to district collectors in the state demanding incentives on exports under the Duty Entitlement Passbook Scheme (DEPB) and benefits on duty drawback on cotton exports, sources at the association said.

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