Aluminium Downstream Manufacturers Protest on Hindalco Safeguard Duty Proposal in Aluminium Ingots

• Jindal Aluminium of Bangalore behind Ad released in Leading Papers under Pseudonym of "Patriot"?

We give below the text of the Advertisement released by "Patriot".

Aluminium is just a part of the story. Steel industry too is beset by a string of actions on MIP, Anti-dumping and Safeguard Actions on ground of industry protection.

In the event, user industry is severely affected by market price distortions.One man’s medicine is poison for 100 others.

Ours is a renowned and registered NGO, PATRIOT which has been doing service and getting justice for victims of corruption since 1990s.

The Hon’ble Union Finance Minister and Commerce Minister to kindly check the double-fold injustice being accorded by bureaucrats who are favouring two primary producers of aluminium by levying Safeguard Duty. Board of Safeguard has rightly rejected the proposal twice, but DG (Safeguard) is recommending it again and again. This is on aluminium ingots only and not on numerous secondary products like sheets, coils, extrusions, cables, conductors, utensils, hardware etc. This is only to benefit two giants who will add more profit to their balance sheets by increasing prices while causing misery and forcing thousands of small and medium manufacturers/fabricators to close down and throw lakhs of people out of employment. This is because Chinese downstream aluminium products will be flooded in India. All this is happening under your nose, Sir, despite numerous representations which furnish a clear and true picture. This will be like other scams during the erstwhile government, hence needs urgent steps to investigate, rectify and punish the culprits before it is too late and it is exposed and bombarded by the media. This may prove to be an embarrassment to the present NDA Government.

Already sufficient benefits have been provided in the last budget to primary producers. Moreover, primary producers have received the special advantage of dollar appreciation along with higher LME price, which has gone up from USD 1450 PMT to USD 1550 PMT in the last six months. Due to all of these factors, the price of aluminium metal has gone up by nearly Rs. 10,000 PMT, while their cost of production remains the same. Despite this, they are still not satisfied and are trying to force consumers to pay them higher prices with the favour from interested designs. Look at the crores of poor people using aluminium utensils for their domestic use as it is the cheapest for them. Unfortunately, primary producers are trying to make it more expensive for the common man, just to fill their pockets with profits. It will become too precious to be used by the common man-all due to arbitrary and corruptive attitude of a few who are remaining unchecked. PMO may also examine. For any clarification, please contact:

President, PATRIOT (Regd.), Email: patriotngo@yahoo.com