The ban on cotton exports imposed by the Union Government all of a sudden will only serve the interests of the textile lobby and middlemen. Farmers will suffer heavy losses, as the domestic market would be depressed, according to Dr Y. Sivaji, former member of the Rajya Sabha and the honorary president of the Andhra Pradesh Tobacco Growers' Association.

Agreeing with the contention of the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Mr Narendra Modi, he said there was no rationale for imposing the ban at this juncture and it was regrettable that the ban had been extended to even cotton stocks which had already been registered.

“No importer will depend on us, if we pursue such erratic and whimsical policies,” he said.

There was no justification for keeping cotton imports under OGL and banning exports. There was a need for formulating a consistent, stable export policy which will help the farmers, he added.

He wanted the Union Government to lift the ban now and not after the stocks had changed hands and reached the godowns of middlemen. Lifting the ban then would only serve the interests of middlemen.

He accused the Union Government of dancing to the tunes of the textile lobby.

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