Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Mar 9: Jewellers today took out a rally in tehsil Hiranagar and later submitted memorandum of demands to Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) for further presenting the same to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Amid slogans, large number of jewellers took out rally to SDM Office Hiranagar. They were demanding immediate roll back of the excise duty imposed on production and manufacturing of gold jewellery.
While addressing the gathering, Raj Kumar Babbar, All India Vice President Swarnkar Sangh and President Swarnkar Sangh, Jammu Province said that they were expecting something special for jewellery trade during budget, but got demoralized by hearing the news of imposition of excise duty.
“We will intensify the protest, if Government failed to roll back the excise duty decision and for any consequence of protest, the Government will be responsible”, he warned.
He added that on one side Government is saying that we cannot provide Government jobs to all, do your own businesses for your livelihood and on the other side Government is forcing us to close our gold business by imposing excise duty on us, which will only lead to corruption.
Later, a delegation of jewellers led by Raj Kumar Babbar submitted a memorandum to SDM Hiranagar for further presenting it to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Through memorandum, the jewelers demanded immediate roll back of the anti-jewellers decision of impostion one percent excise duty on gold ornaments.
Among others present were Ram Kapoor, Jagjeet Singh, Raj Paul, Roop Lal Sundan, Sanjeev Kumar, Kishori Lal Abrol, Sunil Kumar, Jagdish Raj Abrol, Bihari Lal Abrol, Lal man Abrol ,Rajesh, Joginder Paul, Ashutosh Nischal, Rajinder Kumar Sundan, Kewal Kapoor, Parshotam Kumar etc.
When contacted, Raman Suri, Chairman, Chairman, Sarafa Association and Swarnkar Sangh Joint Action Committee for extension of band told the Excelsior that the decision of further extending the bandh will be be taken tomorrow.
“Government still have 24 hours to roll back its decision and if it failed, then we will go to any extent to meet our demands”, Suri added.
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