Marking its 17th day of strike, All Indian Bullion Jewellers and Swarankar Federation (ABJSF) on Thursday staged a protest at Ramleela Maidan protesting against the levy of excise on manufacturing of gold and jewellery. The massive rally was attended by around two lakhs traders from across the Capital and the country.
The rally was also supported by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) while traders in the Capital observed a ‘Delhi Trade Bandh’, closing their shutters in almost all over Delhi. Meanwhile, the prominent markets of all districts including Central Delhi’s Karol Bagh market, Outer Delhi’s Shalimar Bagh market, West Delhi’s Tilak Nagar market, South Delhi’s Khan Market and Northwest Delhi’s Azadpur market were kept closed on the day. Markets in Sadar Bazar, Kalkaji, Mayur Vihar, Chawri Bazar, Dilshad Garden were also among those which were kept completely closed.
“Today is the 17th day of strike of jewelers, which has resulted into a business loss of about 14,000 crores which is further resulting into a revenue loss of about 1,500 crore in shape of custom duty and VAT” said CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal.
“We fully support the Government in curbing black money and will extend all support to the Government in promoting less cash economy in the Country”-said trade leaders CAIT National President BC Bhartia and Khandelwal while demanding a comprehensive study of all the sources of black money generation and called upon the Government to draw a conclusive strategy to check black money in the country.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Government also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday showing their disapproval for the same.