The State unit of the CPM has urged both the Central and the State governments to take steps to protect the knitwear industry in Tirupur, which is facing serious economic crisis after demonetistaion and implementation of GST.

In a resolution adopted at the party state executive meeting in Tirupur, secretary G Ramakrishnan said ancillary units too had been affected. This had led to serious economic crisis in Tirupur, the knitwear hub of the country, and the government should take steps like reverting the reduction of duty drawback to 7.25 per cent, he said.

The party also condemned the attack on a 21-year-old autorickshaw driver, Shahul Hamid of Papanasam in Thanjavur district, by keeping him in illegal police custody for four days in August.

A medical report suggested that his kidneys were now non-functional and he had lost four fingers. A retired judge of the High Court was probing the matter.

Politburo member Prakash Karat, central committee members K Varadarajan, U Vasuki, A Soundararajan and P Sampath are also attending the meeting.