Noida/Ghaziabad: The state's biggest traders' body has called for the closure of all shops and markets on Monday in support of jewellers protesting against 1% excise duty on jewellery proposed in the Union Budget.
The UP Udyog Vyapar Mandal said all shops, except those selling food items and essential commodities, including medicines, will be closed across the state on Monday. Fuel pumps will remain open.
The jewellers have been on a pan-India strike since March 2 demanding the withdrawal of the budgetary proposal. S K Jain, president, Noida chapter of UP Udyog Vyapar Mandal, said, "The Union government seems to be in no mood to consider our demands. Jewellery shops have remained closed and bullion traders are suffering huge losses. We have decided to call for a state-wide strike on Monday to press for excise duty rollback."
Jain said the protesting jewellers are hopeful to meet the PM when he visits Noida on April 5. "We are in touch with the officials of the district administration for a meeting with PM," Jain said.
"The new tax policies will hit jewellery market hard. Buyers will have to pay Rs 1,000 extra as excise duty on purchase of jewellery worth Rs 1 lakh and above. This is going to affect our business," said a Noida-based jeweller.
Rajinder Verma, president, Noida Jeweller Welfare Association, said, "Jewellers in the city are incurring loss of around Rs 50-60 crore every day. We will intensify our protests if our demands are not met."
Sarrafa Association of Ghaziabad's chairman Nitin Goyal said, "We are protesting against the imposition of 1% excise duty on sale of jewellery and the government's decision to make PAN card mandatory for any transaction of Rs 2 lakh and above. The move aims to encourage corruption and establish inspector raj. Not everyone in India has a pan card, so the government's decision will definitely hit sales."Ghaziabad jewellers on Sunday also observed a day's fast at Chaupla Mandir, many with their heads shaved."
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