Daijiworld News Network - Mangalore (AF)

Mangalore, Nov 13: The South Kanara Beedi Workers' Federation will not support the indefinite closure of the bidi industry by the company owners, stated a press release.

The bidi company owners had planned to protest against the central government's decision to impose additional excise duties on the bidi industry from Monday November 20. The Union government had stated that the excise duty has to be imposed as bidi's were machine made products.

The release stated that protesting by closing the industry will help the government in its purpose; therefore, the bidi owners should reconsider their decision.

Federation general secretary Chandappa Anchan urged the state government to intervene in the matter and called for a convention of all authorities concerned to make sure that the problem is solved and the industry does not close down.

The federation also plans to hold a protest rally at Nehru Maidan here on Thursday November 16, the release stated.

The bidi industry has about one crore people all over the country and the bidis are rolled by hand, contrary to what the central government has stated.