Chandigarh: After talks with the Union government, jewellery stores have decided to defer their indefinite strike till April 24. The jewellers have been on a 43-day strike.
Members of the Jewellers Association said shops will remain open till April 24 but if their demands are not met, the strike will resume. Earlier, jewellers submitted a number of representations against levy of 1% excise duty by the Centre. President, Jewellers' Association, Chandigarh (JAC) Vinod Talwar said, "We are deferring the strike till April 24 as the government has decided to find a solution on the demand we raised."
They also warned that the strike would resume if the government failed to deliver. Regardless of the agitation, jewellers were made to pay bills, including electricity, shop maintenance, salaries of labourers and salespersons.
The nationwide strike began on March 1, immediately after finance minister Arun Jaitley announced levying of 1% excise duty in the Union Budget 2016-17. This was to have been applicable from April.
Talwar said, "We hope the 43-day strike has mounted some pressure on the government and the excise duty would be rolled back. As for now, the government is adamant but it is difficult for us to continue like this."