After 42 days, Ludhiana jewellers finally call off strike

After a 42-day protest, city jewellers finally called off their strike on Wednesday.

After a 42-day protest, city jewellers finally called off their strike on Wednesday.

Customers were seen placing orders at various jewellery shops across the city on Wednesday. (Sikander Singh Chopra/HT)

The jewellery shops received a lukewarm response from customers on the first day after strike, and the jewellers were expecting heavy orders in the coming days, said a shop owner.

The strike was called off temporarily till April 24 after the traders received an assurance from the national-level action committee that the matter will be taken up with the government. Jewellers were seen carrying out their routine activity in College Road and Sarafa markets on Wednesday.

Customers heaved a sigh of relief and were seen placing orders.

Anand Sikri, president of the Ludhiana Jewelers Association, said, “All India Jewelers Action Committee, which was recently formed to take up the matter with finance ministry, has instructed us to call off the strike temporarily. The action committee has given an ultimatum to the union government to resolve the excise duty issue on priority. If they fail to do the needful, the strike will be resumed from April 25.”

Jewellers strike that continued for more than six weeks had incurred losses worth crores.