The meeting was chaired by ICMF chairman BK Patodia and attended by chairmen of other affiliated associations. In the memorandum submitted before last year's budget the industry plans to pursue issues it had been raising for nearly two years. Such as, it sought the removal of the excise exemption granted to the small spinning industry on the ground that it had encouraged excise evasion in the sector and led to fragmentation of the units.

It had also raised the controversial issue of disparity in duty incidence between composite mills and independent processors. Moreover, ICMF sought removal of excise exemptions provided to independent process factories.

In seeking removal of all exemptions and a level playing field, the industry feels it has a better case following the announcement of the National Textile Policy - 2000 on Thursday. ``As indicated in the textile policy we expect the government to initiate positive measures encouraging integrated textile complexes and rationalisation of duties in the next budget,'' a spinner said. The industry has also indicated that it will press for a reduction in the basic excise duty from the current level of eight per cent to four per cent for cotton yarn, including sewing thread.