 Early Times Report
JAMMU, Mar 5: To further exert pressure on the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the centre to withdraw the recently levied Excise Duty on gold ornaments, Swarankar Sangh Sarafa Association (SSSA), on Saturday announced to further extend its ongoing bandh by next 72 hours.
A decision to this effect was taken in a joint meeting of Swarankar Sangh, Jammu city and Sarafa Association Jammu. It was chaired by Jammu District Swarankar Sangh President Kulbhushan Anand, Sarafa Association President Parjan Jain and Swarankar Sangh Jammu Province President Raj Kumar Babbar.
Earlier, SSSA took out a massive protest march led by Ajay Vaid, National Working Committee Member of Akhil Bharatiya Swarankar Sangh and General Secretary Swarankar Sangh, which passed through main bazars of the city and culminated at Kanak Mandi Chowk. The participants in the march were shouting slogans against Union Finance Minister -"Vitt mantri hosh mein aao, kaala kanoon vaapis lo" and "inspector raaj khatam karo".
Ajay Vaid, while addressing the gathering of the protesting members of Associations, said that the Union Finance Minister has levied Excise Duty of one percent on gold ornaments, which is unjustified and not acceptable. He said that in 2012, UPA government had levied similar duty but it was withdrawn in just three weeks after protests and opposition across the country but the Congress lost the elections due to non-support of over 25 lakh shopkeepers and 75 lakh artisans associated with gold business.
Under the Chairmanship of Raman Suri, Raj Kumar Babber (All India Vice President Swamkar Sangh & President Swamkar Sangh, Jammu Province), Parjan Kumar Jain (President Sarafa Association, Jammu), Kulbhushan Anand (President Swarnkar Sangh, Jammu District), Vijay Kumar Verma (General Secretary Sarafa Association, Jammu), Ram Kapoor(General Secretary Swarnkar Sangh, Jammu Province), Ajay Vaid (General Secretary Swamkar Sangh, Jammu District), Surinder Kumar Jain (Treasurer Sarafa Association, Jammu), Jewellers of Jammu Province kept their business establishments/shops closed on the forth consecutive day.
Raj Kumar Babbar and Parjan Kumar Jain jointly said that they were expecting something' special for Jewellery trade during budget, but later, got demoralized by hearing the news of imposition of Excise Duty. Speaking during the Dhama, Vijay Kumar Verma said that we respect Prime Minister Modi and his whole team. But, Verma said, he was astonished when be heard during budget that Excise Duty has been imposed on our trade. Although, Modi in 2012 himself said that this law is not good for Jewellery trade. |
