Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 11: Gold traders, jewellers and artisans continued their indefinite strike for yet another day today, in protest against the proposed one per cent excise duty on non-silver jewellery.
However, the protesting bullion traders asked State BJP Unit leaders to take up the matter with Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who is visiting Jammu tomorrow to inaugurate State BJP Office here at Trikuta Nagar.
Jewellery shops and establishments in the State wore a deserted look for the 41st day today. They have been on strike since March 2 after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his Budget announced one per cent excise duty on manufacturing and production of gold jewellery.
Large number of jewellers, swarnkars, karigars and artisans assembled at Jain Bazaar and held peaceful protest. Amid slogans, the protestors took out a rally to Jain Sabha at Kali Jani, wherein they held a meeting and discussed further course of action of their protest.
Addressing the protestors Raman Suri, Chairman, Sarafa Association and Swarnkar Sangh Joint Action Committee, Jammu Province informed that, “A delegation led by Fateh Chand Ranka, Chairman, All-India Action Committee of Jewellers along with representatives from all States of India had requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to meet them, but PM did not give them even a single minute of his time. Later, they met Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who told them that excise duty will not be rolled back at any cost but amendments can be made in the Excise Duty Act, according to the Jewellers’ will.
The delegation also met Amit Shah, All India President, Bharatiya Janata Party, who sought two days time from the jewellers to take up the matter with Union Finance Minister to solve this issue on the grounds that are accepted to them as well as Jewellers, Suri added.
“We are law-abiding citizens and have been peacefully protesting since March 2 against the decision of imposing excise duty. Our protest is not because we fear the excise duty, but merely for our customers and all the other people associated with our trade. Our intention behind this protest is to avoid extra burden on their shoulders. But, the Union Ministry being so adamant on our issue, that roll back of Excise Duty is becoming difficult day-by-day”, he asserted.
Suri requested Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to listen to the plea of jewellers and roll back the excise duty for the welfare of the society and the nation as a whole.
As Arun Jaitley is visiting Jammu tomorrow, Suri asked State BJP Unit leaders to take up the jewellers issue with him.
Parjan Kumar Jain, President Sarafa Association Jammu, Kulbhushan Anand, President Swarnkar Sangh Jammu District, Vijay Kumar Verma, General Secretary Sarafa Association Jammu, Surinder Jain, Treasure Sarafa Association Jammu and executive members of Sarafa Association Ajay Talla, Rakesh Mahajan, Sanjay Jain, CL Khajuria, CL Puri, Vijay Saraf and Darshan Dhalla were also present.
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