Padmashalis to go on nation-wide protest against GST hike

Hyderabad: The All India Padmashali Sangham will stage demonstrations including “Handloom March” in different States from January 5 in protest against the Central government’s move to increase GST on textiles and handlooms from 5 per cent to 12 per cent from January 1. The Centre’s move to increase GST on textiles would sound the death […]

Hyderabad: The All India Padmashali Sangham will stage demonstrations including “Handloom March” in different States from January 5 in protest against the Central government’s move to increase GST on textiles and handlooms from 5 per cent to 12 per cent from January 1.

The Centre’s move to increase GST on textiles would sound the death knell for the 32 lakh families dependent on handlooms across the country. Demanding that the Centre withdraw the decision, demonstrations would commence on January 5 in Telangana and across the State there will be different programmes, Akhila Bharatiya Padmashali Sangham Handloom Vibhag Chairman Y Venkanna said.

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Addressing media persons here on Wednesday, Venkanna said similar protests would be conducted on January 7 in Maharashtra, January 8 in Gujarat, January 11 in Andhra Pradesh, January 23 in Kerala, January 27 in Karnataka and a Maha dharna would be staged in New Delhi in February.

The protests will include Handloom March with people sporting Gandhi caps and holding flags with spinning wheel in every village, he added.

MLC L Ramana said the State government had appealed to the Central government to roll back the GST hike on textiles and handlooms. Increasing GST on textiles would adversely affect the entire textiles and handlooms sector as prices would escalate and sales would decline, he pointed out.

“It is objectionable to levy GST on textiles and handlooms. We will extend support to the Padmashali Sangham programmes,” said Ramana.

Also Read: Siddipet weavers demand Centre to revoke GST hike

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