Jewellers end 18-day strike, government assures no harassment by excise department

Zee Media Bureau

Mumbai: After continuing for 18 days, jewellers have finally called off their strike after the government assured them they will not be harasssed by the excise department in collecting a new tax.

The jeweller's body went on strike after the government reintroduced a 1-percent excise duty on gold jewellery after four years.

Talking to media, Mohit Kamboj, president of India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA) said, "We have called off strike. From tomorrow jewellers will open shops."

He also said that since government has assured them that they will face no harassment at the hands of excise department, though excise duty won't be waived off, they have decided to end strike.

According to IBJA, in a meeting that lasted for eight hours on Saturday, it was decided that a high-level task force will be set up under the leadership of former Chief Economic Adviser Ashok Lahiri to sort out procedural issues. The task force will have three industry representatives, a legal expert and Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) officials as its members.