*Memo submitted to Union Ministry through Speaker
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 10: As the Central Government failed to revoke its decision of imposing one percent excise duty on the production and manufacturing of the gold ornaments, the jewellers across Jammu and Kashmir went on indefinite strike from today.
Around 25,000 jewellery shops including showrooms across the State remained closed for the ninth consecutive day in protest against the imposition of one per cent excise duty on the gold ornaments.
With the closure of the jewellery shops, not only the owners but the employees and the people are facing hardships.
Large number of jewellers led by Raman Suri, Chairman, Sarafa Association and Swarankar Sangh Joint Action Committee and other members of the committee assembled at Jain Bazaar and held protest. Due to closure of the shops for the 9th consecutive day, the jewelers suffered losses running into several crores.
They raised slogans in favour of their demands and warned of dire consequence, if the Government failed to revoke its decision at the earliest.
After protest, the protesting jewelers took out candle march in the evening, which passed through various areas of the Old City.
Later, in one voice, all the jewellers unanimously decided to go on indefinite strike till the Government revokes its decision of imposing one per cent excise duty on gold ornaments.
Addressing the gathering, Raman Suri, Chairman, Sarafa Association and Swarankar Sangh Joint Action Committee and Raj Kumar Babbar, President, All India Vice President Swarankar Sangh and President, Swarankar Sangh Jammu Province said that the bandh will continue till their demand of revocation of excise duty is revoked.
Meanwhile, the jewellers also submitted a memorandum to Speaker Legislative Assembly Kavinder Gupta.
Through memorandum, Raman Suri, Chairman, Sarafa Association and Swarankar Sangh Joint Action Committee and Raj Kumar Babbar, President, All India Vice President Swarankar Sangh and President, Swarankar Sangh Jammu Province, Parjan Kumar Jain, President, Sarafa Association Jammu, Kulbhushan Anand, President Swarankar Sangh Jammu District, Vijay Kumar Verma, General Secretary, Sarafa Association Jammu, Ajay Vaid, General Secretary, Swarankar Sangh Jammu District, Surinder Kumar Jain, Treasurer, Sarafa Association Jammu said that the budget announced by the Central Government has disheartened the jewellery traders all across the country.
“The imposition of one per cent excise duty without input credit or 12.5 per cent excise duty with input credit on production and manufacturing of the gold ornaments has created chaos and confusion among the jewellery traders as we were expecting some thing beneficial for us in the budget”, they added.
We always supported the decisions of the Central Government whether it was Gold Monetization Scheme or Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme, but this time we can’t support Government’s decision of imposing said excise duty as it will act as a murdering weapon for the jewellery traders.
The jewellers also raised various other issues confronting them including paying of taxes, salaries to employees, etc.
They urged Speaker to intervene in the matter and forward the same to the Union Finance Ministry in order to save the declining jewellery trade and roll back of the recently imposed excise duty.
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