COIMBATORE: Tirupur Member of Parliament K Subbarayan on Tuesday urged the Union government to waive loans for the knitwear industry, which has been severely affected by the imposition of US tariffs.
Addressing the media, the MP stated that a large number of small and medium-sized units have shut down their operations, while only corporate firms have managed to withstand the impact of the tariffs.
“Many industrialists are unable to speak out on the adverse effects of the tariff regime due to prevailing pressures. As the knitwear units in Tirupur have suffered severe loss, the union government must come forward to waive debts of industries in Tirupur that are reeling under this external shock,” he said, while pointing to the partisan attitude of the central government in the waiver of loans for larger corporate entities alone on several occasions.
On the ongoing issue of the arrest of poultry farmers, the MP said it was unacceptable that farmers who were protesting for a wage hike had been detained and lodged in Vellore prison.
“All cases filed against farmers should be withdrawn immediately. The state government should intervene and initiate talks to ensure fair remuneration for farmers involved in rearing chicks,” he said.
Stressing the need to improve infrastructure in Tirupur, the MP also called for the construction of major flyovers to ease traffic congestion in the industrial city.