large number of jewelers and people associated with industry would participate in the proposed rally at New Delhi on Thursday. The rally call in the national capital is given by The Indian Bullion and Jewelers’ Association and jewelers from all parts of the country are expected to descend in Delhi to take part in it.
The district President of the Jewelers association Pankaj Mason said that jewelers would depart to Delhi in four buses and other vehicles from Dehradun on late Wednesday night. He said that more than 8000 people are directly associated with the industry in Dehradun and the government’s decision to levy an excise duty on gold ornaments has put their livelihood at peril.
Earlier in the day the Jewelers organised a ‘Buddhi Shuddhi Yagya in the Dhamawala market for good sense to prevail on the Union Government. The speakers on the occasion blamed the Union finance minister Arun Jaitely for imposing a draconian tax on the jewelers. The jewelers of the city are keeping their shops closed for last 16 days as a mark of protest. The speakers on the occasion called upon the jewelers to attend the proposed rally in New Delhi on Thursday in large numbers so that the Government is able to take note of their problems.
There are more than 700 shops of Goldsmiths in the state capital and it is estimated that the gems and jewelry industry has suffered a loss more than Rs 110 cores in Dehradun alone due to the strike. The jewelers are of the view that the excise duty will have a major impact on about five lakh jewelers and 40 lakh artisans across the country. They are even suggesting that the government should abolish the excise duty and increase the existing duty on gold import from 10 per cent to 11 per cent.