They shared the dais at a meeting of mill workers and hit out at the `anti-working class' policies of the alliance government recently. Veteran leaders including former minister Narendra Tidke, state INTUC leader Haribhau Naik and Hind Majdoor Sabha leader Maltibai Ruikar, Congress leaders Vilas Muttemwar, Kishor Kashikar, MLC and Vasant Parshionikar, INTUC's Dada Lambat, AITUC leader Bal Aloni and Forward Bloc leader T Ranganathan were among those present.

The leaders referred to the historic struggle they had launched about three decades ago for revival of the Model Mills and said they were prepared for a similar struggle again for reopening the Weavers Mills. The Model Mill, which was closed down following financial problems faced by its owner, was nationalised and reopened by the government after Narendra Tidke's11-day-long hunger strike. Recalling the role played by political leaders and mill workers at that time, Tidke expressed the hope that a show of unity by leaders and a determined struggle by mill workers would force the government to take early steps for re-opening of the mill.

Haribhau Naik gave details of a scheme submitted by him for handing over the mill management to a cooperative society floated by mill workers. The issue was discussed with Chief Minister Manohar Joshi in June, who appreciated the idea of a workers cooperative running the mills. He agreed to study the proposal and take an early decision. But the decision is still awaited, Naik said. He also lashed out at the alliance government for discarding the policy for rehabilitation of sick mills.

Nagpur MP Vilas Muttemwar came down heavily on the alliance government for turning a blind eye to the mill workers' plight. He was of the view that the government could have easily spared the required funds for reopening of the mills. The Nagpur MPwas also critical of the State Government's move to sell the mill to a private company, which was interested in running the mill only after considerably reducing the workforce. He assured to take up the issue with Union Minister for Textiles Kashiram Rana.

The Mill controlled by weavers is the only of its kind in the country. It was closed down in October 1995 when the mill management failed to clear the huge power bills. As a result, nearly 1,200 workers were rendered jobless.