Sharing an image of the postcard he sent, Twitter user Gopikrishna tweeted: “BJP at the Centre imposed five percent GST on handloom products, the price of the materials has gone up, that’s why we are sending a postcard to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
Another Twitter user, Sri Hari declared his support, pointing out that the BJP government at the Centre lacks minimum concern towards handloom workers. Another netizen John Manish also tweeted his support, appealing to the union government to remove the GST on handloom products in order to safeguard the livelihoods of millions of Indian weavers and protect India’s cultural heritage.
NAFSCOB chairman Konduru Ravinder Rao tweeted: “Whether its farmers or weavers in the country, it is the Telangana government that stands by them and fights for them. Proud to be part of this movement.”
Whether its farmers or weavers in this country, its the Telangana Govt. that stands by them & fights for them.
Meanwhile, following up on his Postcard to Modi campaign, KT Rama Rao on Sunday posted a petition on the popular worldwide nonprofit website, change.org.
“Let’s protect the handloom sector by joining hands for a noble cause. I request everyone to sign this petition and also share it with their friends and family. https://chng.it/sFyKKqQZmd,” he tweeted, adding the hash tag #RollbackHandloomGST.
Let’s protect the handloom sector by joining hands for a noble cause. I request everyone to sign this petition and also share it with their friends and family. https://t.co/cCk8o9Mh7F#RollbackHandloomGST
“GST on handlooms is a direct threat to the millions of people who earn their livelihoods in the handloom sector. Weavers across the country unanimously oppose taxes on handloom since it had resulted in huge losses, forcing many to turn away from the traditional craft,” he said in a thread of tweets.
I appeal to the Union Government to remove the GST on handloom products in order to safeguard the livelihoods of millions of Indian weavers and protect India’s cultural heritage.#RollbackHandloomGST
The petition pointed out that the Union Government’s decision of imposing GST on handloom products was a severe blow to the Indian handloom sector, which was already in a precarious state.
About 1,000 people signed the petition within hours of the Minister sharing it, while several others have shared it on social media, calling for support to the cause.