Textiles traders, who had been on a statewide indefinite strike since March 9, called off their strike on Thursday following assurance from the state government on withdrawal of value added tax (VAT) on textiles.
The assurance was given by state Congress president and transport minister Botcha Satyaranayana, minister for handlooms and textiles G Prasad Kumar and minister for minor irrigation TG Venkatesh. The textile traders, under the aegis of AP Federation of Textile Associations (APFTA), held discussions with the ministers on Wednesday.
Speaking to Express, APFTA president Ammanabolu Prakash said the ministers told them that they had convinced chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy of the need to withdraw VAT on textiles.
Two days ago a delegation submitted memoranda to nine ministers, urging them to convince the chief minister on their demand and to save them from hardships.