Protect make in Dharavi first: Rahul Gandhi

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has assured small entrepreneurs in Dharavi that he would take up their grievances in Parliament after they complained that their Rs 2,000-crore business was on a decline owing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies that ‘favoured

corporates’. Mr Gandhi assured traders that Congress would back them and he would raise their problems in Parliament. “Make in India will not succeed until Make in Dharavi is protected,” he said.

Mr Gandhi was speaking to entrepreneurs on his second and last day in Mumbai, when he participated in a ‘padyatra’ (march) starting from Bandra (west) near former Congress MP Priya Dutt’s office and concluded at 90 Feet Road, Dharavi.

During the march, Mr Gandhi entered a small pandal where local traders were waiting for him. Entrepreneurs from the leather, readymade garments industry, ‘farsan’ vendors and even exporters of beef were present to speak to him.

Umar Ansari, leader of export association, said that the beef ban was the worst decision of the Modi government. “There are more than 5 lakh people dependent on the beef industry within the Dharavi area. Butchers, exporters and many others who depend on this business, including farmers, are facing trouble,” Mr Ansari told Mr Gandhi.

He termed PM Modi as ‘shaitan’ (devil) and said that Mr Modi has ruined the houses of lakhs of people. Chandrakant Bhoite, a manufacturer of leather, said that their sector was in trouble as they now had to pay a huge amount as income tax.

“The leather industry is huge in Dharavi and people involved in this sector make handmade items from leather,” said Mr Bhoite.

“Put pressure on Modi government so that we get relief from export taxes,” he added.Entrepreneurs also demanded a gas subsidy and protection in the redevelopment plan.