The All-India Trade Forum on Saturday said they were losing out to competitors from Gujarat,Himachal Pradesh,Bihar and other states due to government apathy. An AITF delegation that met former chief minister and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Captain Amarinder Singh told him that the political leaders make tall promises before elections and after they are elected they become inaccessible.We raised these issues with Amarinder so that he remains accessible if his party comes to power after elections. We feel cheated when the elected representatives dont give us any benefits which they promise in election campaign, AITF convenor Narinder Bhamra said.Amarinder,who met at least 12 delegations,said he assured them he will not neglect the business community. We need you as much as you need us. I assure you that all Central government-related issues will be taken by me with the prime minister and as far as state issues are concerned,we will change the industrial landscape once we come to power, he said. AITF members stated that the present trade forum for industry has no say in the government and they want a trade cell which can actually solve the problems. Vinod Thaper,president of Knitwear Club,was more worried about the treaty which India is going to sign with Bangladesh regarding free import of 34 items. If this treaty is signed,hosiery industry,which is the second largest employer after agriculture will be ruined because in Bangladesh labour and infrastructure is cheaper as compared to that in India and the readymade garments are 25-30 per cent cheaper as compared to what we produce here. So our industry will not be able to survive, Thaper said. Amarinder said he will meet the prime minister and ask him to consider the interests of knitwear industry before signing the treaty. The free import will include items like T-shirts,jeans and sweaters among others. K K Garg,president of North India Induction Furnace,said,Cross-subsidy on open access of electricity should be allowed. Electricity duty should be covered under VAT. The industrialists demanded waiver of institutional tax,external development charges,and also wanted committees to be set up for power reform. Another meeting will be organised by Amarinder with the industry to listen to grievances.
