<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">Tamil Nadu

Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has issued an urgent appeal to Prime Minister

Narendra Modi, seeking the total withdrawal of the 11 percent import duty on

cotton to safeguard the state’s cornerstone textile industry. In a detailed

formal communication, the Chief Minister underscored that the sector is

currently navigating an unprecedented crisis fueled by an aggressive surge in

raw material prices. The cost of cotton has witnessed a staggering climb,

jumping from ₹54,700 to ₹67,700 per candy within a mere sixty-day window. This

price volatility has left garment manufacturers and spinning mills in a state

of financial paralysis, unable to sustain production under such prohibitive

input costs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">The

repercussions of this economic strain extend far beyond corporate balance

sheets, threatening the fundamental livelihoods of millions across the state.

Tamil Nadu stands as India’s premier hub for textile and apparel exports, and

the current instability poses a direct risk to the socio-economic fabric of the

region. Chief Minister Vijay pointed out that the industry is a massive

employment generator, particularly for women from rural and semi-urban

backgrounds who rely on these clusters for their financial independence. A

continued spike in yarn and cotton prices could trigger a wave of layoffs and

industrial shutdowns, potentially reversing years of progress in the state's

manufacturing landscape.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">To

maintain India’s competitive edge in the global market, the Chief Minister

argued that federal intervention is no longer optional but a necessity. The

existing import duty is viewed as a significant barrier that prevents domestic

manufacturers from accessing global raw material markets at viable rates,

especially when local supplies are tight or overpriced. By removing this fiscal

burden, the state hopes to stabilize production costs and ensure that Indian

textile exports remain attractive to international buyers. Without a swift

policy pivot from the Center, the state government fears long-term structural

damage to its weaving and garment hubs, which could lead to a severe spike in

unemployment and industrial stagnation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">&nbsp;</span></p>