MNS sowing discord with Pakistan may cost cotton traders

With tensions between India and Pakistan on the rise and a strident anti-Pakistan stand adopted by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), worried cotton traders in Maharashtra have demanded that export of cotton to Pakistan not be stopped. The reason behind this is the bumper growth of cotton crop expected in the state, thanks to the good rainfall recorded this year. Traders said they may lose around Rs 5,500 crore if cotton export to Pakistan is stopped. The MNS, meanwhile, has asked traders to sacrifice profits for the sake of the nation.

Maharashtra is a major cotton manufacturer in India, followed by Gujarat. Pradeep Jain, a Jalgaon-based ginner, claimed that Maharashtra is set to record bumper production this year, as monsoon was very good. “We will produce around 1 crore cotton bales (1 bale = 170kg) this year and if export is stopped in the name of patriotism post the Uri attack, it will badly affect the cotton industry, specifically farmers,” said Mr Jain.

Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam and China are the major importers of Indian cotton, Mr Jain said. “Pakistan starts import of cotton in September every year. But they haven’t yet given the order. Pakistan consumes on average 20 to 25 lakh bales whereas Bangladesh consumes 20 lakh bales from Indian cotton exporters,” he said.

According to Sharadram Sejpal, spokesperson of Power Loom Association, India had imported 20,000 bales of cotton from Pakistan in June due to low production in India. Now, with bumper growth, traders want to earn by exporting cotton to Pakistan. “Generally, we export cotton to Pakistan. But the (said) period was bad and now when we are expecting record production, MNS’s stand against Pakistani actors has affected our cotton industry and ultimately the power loom industry has to suffer,” said Mr Sejpal.

Malik Sattar, a Karachi-based cotton trader, said, “Pakistan imports mostly Shankar brand cotton from India. But, post the Uri incident and some political party’s opposition it has affected the trade between India and Pakistan.”

Mr Sejpal demanded that the MNS keep politics aside and not mingle it with trade. However, MNS spokesperson Shalini Thackeray said traders should put nationalism above business. She said, “Traders should sacrifice for the sake of nationalism. Nation should be first. If jawans are scarifying their lives, why shouldn’t traders do this Money-making should be secondary (when it comes to the) case of Pakistan,” said Ms Thackeray.