Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 27: The jewellers recalled the history as their indefinite strike since March 2 after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his Budget announced one per cent excise duty on non-silver jewellery entered 26th day.
Sarafa Association and Swarnkar Sangh Joint Action Committee, Jammu Province held a meeting under the supervision of its Chairman Raman Suri.
While speaking, Suri lambasted the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for not taking positive decision in favour of jewellers.
He asked the BJP leaders including PM Narendra Modi, who had favoured the 22 days long jewellers strike in 2012 on the same issue, that if they could support a cause four years back, then why they are not supporting the same cause this time.
“Our strike entered 26th day today, but the BJP Government is not taking any concrete step to roll back its proposed excise duty decision, which is grave injustice with the jewellers community, who faced losses worth several crores during the ongoing strike period”, Suri added.
Suri urged Jaitley to immediately roll back the excise duty decision so that the respect, which the jewellers have for him will remain intact.
Raj Kumar Babber, All India Vice President Swarnkar Sangh and President Swarnkar Sangh Jammu Province informed that President All India Swarnkars Sangh Bahadur Singh Verma will take part in the protest rally at Samba tomorrow, which will be carried out by members of the Swarnkar Sangh, Jammu Province.
He stated that due to the ongoing indefinite strike, the customers are facing difficulties and Government should revoke the excise duty decision at the earliest.
Parjan Kumar Jain, President Sarafa Association Jammu, Kulbhushan Anand, President Swarnkar Sangh Jammu District, Vijay Verma, General Secretary Sarafa Association Jammu, Ajay Vaid, General Secretary Swarnkar Sangh Jammu District and all the members of the Sarafa Association and Swarnkar Sangh in one voice condemned the lathicharge by police on protesting jewellers in Punjab.