Texturisers8217; assn agitation

SURAT, March 7: About 700 members of the South Gujarat Texturisers8217; Association will launch an indefinite agitation from Tuesday to press for simplification of Excise rules as also to protest against the alleged harassment by the Excise department. They will hold a meeting at Surat Textile market on Monday and submit a memorandum to the district collector at the end of a vehicle rally.

The industry had suggested to the Finance Minister, Textile Minister and Central government officials during various meetings before the budget to introduce a simplified procedure for recovery of Excise duty, the association pointed out in a release, adding none of the suggestions were taken into account.

To register its protest, scores of association members called on Textile Minister Kashiram Rana who requested them to come to Delhi after March 8, and assured them that he would give a sympathetic ear to their demands. Many units have closed down and others could not make salaries due to adverse condition the industry was passing through.