Two members of Jewellers’ Association of Uttarakhand (JAU) were arrested by the police when they were protesting in the city on Monday against the Centre slapping 1 per cent excise duty on the non-silver ornaments. The protest entered its 20th day on Monday with no possibility of Centre meeting the jewellers’ demand of withdrawing the excise duty.
The protesters assembled at Dhamawala and rallied to Clock Tower while shouting slogans against the Central Government. Two protesters- Praveen Jain and Praveen Verma- were arrested by police when the protesters were about to block the road at Clock Tower.
Police faced verbal arguments and altercation with the protesters. The arrested duo were brought to Kotwali police station. Stepping up the stir further, the protesters gheraoed Kotwali police station and shouted slogans against the district police administration.
The protesters alleged that police had acted unjustly by arresting two of the association members, saying that the agitation was peaceful. later, they were released.
Meanwhile, five protesters- Anil Sharma, Pramod Kumar Maison, Bhudev Verma, Santanu Sahani and Anil Kumar- sat on the rely stir going on for the past 12 days at Dhamawala.
JAU vice -president Sunil Masson said that they have been protesting for the past 20 days with the Centre remaining unmoved. The Centre should immediately roll back the decision and raise the limit of requirement of PAN card for jewellery transaction from Rs 2 lakhs to Rs 10 lakh. “They would continue their stir till the Centre withdraws excise duty on gold and diamond-studded gold ornaments,” he warned.