Cotton export ban: Guj ginning mills to observe bandh

As many as one thousand ginning mills in Gujarat will observe a two-day bandh from tomorrow in protest against the Union government's decision to ban export of cotton.

The Centre yesterday banned the export of cotton amid fears that its prices will shoot up on account of declining production in the current season.

"We have decided to suspend work at ginning mills on March 7 and March 8 against the centre's decision to ban cotton export", President of Saurashtra Ginners Association Bharat Vala said.

Rajkot Marketing Yard president Hardevsinh Jadeja said they have suspended buying and selling of cotton as prices have fallen by Rs 40 per tonne following the announcement.

Both opposition Congress and ruling BJP are demanding withdrawal of the ban with immediate effect.

"With banning on export of cotton, the Centre proved itself to be anti-farmer government," Rajkot MLA Govind Patel said.