The handloom weavers in Salem have urged the Centre to exempt all textile products from the GST as it would only hike the price of textiles, in turn it would lead to stagnation of textiles at the production centres.

The office-bearers of the Jaari Kondalampatti Pure Silk Textiles Producers Association presented a petition to the District Collector on Saturday urging him to recommend exemption for all textile goods from GST. Only exemption from GST would protect this industry, the petition said.

Balaraman, president of the association and Jayaraman, its secretary, handed over the petition to the Collector.

one lakh families involved in handloom weaving and they have been producing pure silk textiles, dhotis and saris for many decades. The Centre has announced 5% tax under GST for textile items.

In Salem district there are around