Jewellers Call off 42-Day Strike After Government’s Assurance

Jewellers, protesting against the imposition of excise duties, have temporarily called off the strike until 24 April.

Jewellers in the national capital temporarily called off their forty-two-day strike on Wednesday, demanding a roll-back of the proposed excise duty on non-silver jewellery, for twelve days, after the government’s assurance that there will be no harassment by excise officials.

We have decided to temporarily call off the strike till 24 April after the government’s assurance.

Surinder Kumar Jain, Vice-President of All India Sarafa Association 

Jewellers in Maharashtra have also called off their strike temporarily from 14 April to 24 April, Maharashtra Rajya Saraf Suvarnakar Federation President Fatechand Ranka said.

Jewellery houses remained closed since 2 March after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Budget proposed levying 1 percent excise duty on non-silver jewellery. Jewellers, bullion traders and artisans reopened their establishments yesterday in Rajasthan, said Subhash Mittal, President, Rajasthan Sarafa Sangh in Jaipur.

If the government does not consider our demand of rolling back its decision of imposing 1 percent excise duty, we will resume our strike from 25 April. 

Ram Avtar Verma President of Bullion and Jewellery Association

Meanwhile, jewellers in Meerut also reopened their shops today. The gems and jewellery industry is estimated to have incurred losses of over rupees one lakh crore due to the 42-day strike.

Over three lakh jewellers from more than 300 associations kept their establishments closed across the country since 2 March. Jewellers are also against the mandatory quoting of PAN by customers for transactions of rupees two lakh and above.

The Centre has already constituted a panel under former Chief Economic Advisor Ashok Lahiri to look into the demands of the jewellers.

The panel, which has been asked to submit its report in 60 days, will look into issues related to compliance procedure for the excise duty, including records to be maintained, forms to be filled, operating procedures and other relevant issues.