MUMBAI, MAY 21: Members of the Ulhasnagar Manufacturers' Association (UMA), Sindhunagar Vyapari Maha Mandal and other citizens took their continuing ire against a national daily onto the streets today. They held demonstrations and attempted to burn copies of the newspaper, which they said had published derogatory remarks about Ulhasnagar manufacturers.

The report, which appeared recently, had described Ulhasnagar as `a locality notorious in Mumbai for manufacturing duplicate or counterfeit goods of any popular brands, either national or international.' The report had mocked them by publishing these malicious remarks, they said. They also alleged that major newspapers published from Mumbai and other centres deliberately try to run down the untiring efforts of the people of Ulhasnagar.

The businessmen tried to burn a bundle of newspapers. The police on the scene prevented the incident. The agitators were taken to the Ulhasnagar police station and discharged later. However, the businessmen tore up and threw copies of the newspaper on reaching the main market area.

Though the offending report appeared some time ago, the businessmen continue to be agitated over it. Since the publication of the report, they have held two meetings at the Bharatiya Sanskar Ashram, Punjabi colony, where reputed manufacturers and traders assembled and condemned the media for its attempts to tarnish their name and reputation. The traders have decided to file a court case against the newspaper, seeking an explanation for such writing.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.