Representatives of Ludhiana Textile Industry announced a ‘rail roko’ (stop trains) movement to stop the trains on March 1 in a press conference at Ludhiana today. They say that cheap cloth from China and Bangladesh comes to India due to which their business has been severely affected. They also say that complete sealing of the borders of Punjab and Haryana has also affected transport, causing massive losses worth crores to the garment industry of Ludhiana.
Today, a press conference was organized in a private hotel, where the businessmen made a tough decision and took an oath that they will not do any kind of business with China and will not allow anyone to do so as well.
The representatives inform that the yarn in India is Rs. 125 per kg while imported cloth is being sold here at Rs. 50 per kg. Due to this, Ludhiana textile industry has been completely affected and their businesses are on the verge of closure. They said that they have met with the Union Ministers several times but the government is not ready to pay attention to their demands due to which the entire industry will be forced to shut down their factories on March 1 and block the Amritsar-Delhi railway line.
They also inform that every day a large quantity of cloth is coming to India from China via Bangladesh. As a result, big Indian houses Tata, Reliance etc. stopped manufacturing goods from India and started purchasing from Bangladesh. Due to which not only Ludhiana or Punjab but entire India is facing huge losses.
He also said that due to the questionable acts of some government officials, the government also incurred a loss of thousands of crores of rupees. Production in the industry has reduced by 50 to 60%. The industry is on the verge of closure and the government should take a decision on this soon. if a suitable decision is not taken then they will be forced to drastic means, giving the deadline of March 1. If the government does not accept the ultimatum, trains going to Delhi will be stopped on March 1.