Dozens of members of Jewellers’ Association of Uttaranchal (JAU) were arrested by the police at Clock Tower when they were trying to march towards Raj Bhawan on Friday against the Centre slapping 1 per cent excise duty on the non-silver ornaments on Friday.
The protesters were also supported by members of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Shiv Sena and Communist Party of India . The protest entered its 30th day on Friday with little scope seen presently of Centre meeting the jewellers’ demand of withdrawing the excise duty.
Dehradun based jewelers shut down their shops and assembled under the banner of various associations-Sarafa Mandal, Jewellers’ Association of Uttranchal, District Jewellers Association and Uttarakhand Jewellers Association among others at Dhamawala for their protest rally to Raj Bhawan raising slogans against the Union Government and union finance minister Arun Jaitely and in support of their demand.
However, the protesters were held back at the barricading set up at Clock Tower by the police. Amidst heavy police presence the protesters had verbal arguments and jostled while attempting to break through the police barricading. Not being able to carry out their planned protest march to the Raj Bhawan, the protesters sat down in demonstration against the Central Government. The police arrested the protesters when they continued to adamantly advance towards the Raj Bhawan. The arrested protesters were later released at police line.
JAU vice -president Sunil Masson said that they have been protesting for the past 30 days with the Centre remaining unmoved. Without further delay, the Centre should roll back the decision and raise the limit of requirement of PAN card for jewellery transactions from `2 lakh to `10 lakh. He further emphasised that the jewelers will continue their protest till the Centre withdraws excise duty on gold and diamond-studded gold ornaments.