Chinese Silk Will Wipe Out Assam Silk, Fears Brinda

By Sushanta Talukdar

Rangiya,Mar 31 : Communist Party of India (Marxist) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat on Wednesday expressed apprehension that the unique Muga silk of Assam would be wiped out soon as Chinese silk will come in a big way due to reduction of import duty on raw silk by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

Ms. Karat, who has been in the State campaigning for her party candidates, also flayed the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress-Bodoland People's Front (BPF) coalition government for failing to demand a review of the decision by the Centre.

A member of the Rajya Sabha, Ms. Karat told journalists here that there has been a misconception that this will help the handloom sector. “It is not so. Handlooms are not using imported raw silk. So there should be no misconception on that. Certain powerloom units in Tamil Nadu and, to a certain extent, in Uttar Pradesh, may be benefited. But it will adversely affect the sericulture farmers. Chinese silk will come in a big way due to reduction in import duty on raw silk and our own farmers will suffer.

The unique Muga silk of Assam will be wiped out. There is no quantitative restriction on raw silk and once the Chinese silk starts entering, our raw silk producers, who are poor and small marginal farmers, will simply die. The UPA Government must review the decision. Unfortunately the Congrees-led coalition government in Assam has done nothing even though the State's unique Muga and traditional handloom silk industry will be severely hit,” she added.

Later addressing an election rally at Goreswar to campaign for the sitting party legislator from Rangiya Assembly constituency Ananta Deka, Ms. Karat urged the electorates in Assam to elect more and more representatives of her party to the Assembly to raise stronger voice for the poor and marginalised.

Holding party flags in their hands and sporting red caps, hundreds of CPI(M) workers, dancing to the beats of Bihu dhol and Kham (traditional drums of the Bodo tribe) and tunes of sifung (traditional Bodo flute) escorted Ms. Karat to the rally venue.

The senior CPI(M) leader also flayed the Tarun Gogoi government for not giving patta to traditional forest dwellers in the State under the Forest Rights Act.