Striking jewellers to shut shops for 2 more days

Jewellery shops in Ludhiana will remain closed for two more days as jewellers have decided to extend their strike, started three days ago to protest against excise tax on non-branded jewellery.

Jewellery shops in Ludhiana will remain closed for two more days as jewellers have decided to extend their strike, started three days ago to protest against excise tax on non-branded jewellery.

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The representatives of jewellery associations failed to get time from the state finance minister on Monday, and will now be meeting him on Tuesday.

Anand Sikri, president of Ludhiana Jewellers' Association, said, "We have extended our strike for two more days. Now, the jewellery shops in the city will remain closed on March 20 and 21 also."

Earlier, there was 1% customs duty on gold, then it was increased to 2% in January, but in the Union Budget it was proposed to be increased to 4%.

"We were already under pressure after the increase in customs duty, and now the finance minister had not only increased the excise duty in the budget but also imposed excise on non-branded jewellery and has also brought us under the excise department, which we strongly condemn," Sikri said.