Chandigarh: Jewellers association of Chandigarh (JAC) held a rally from Sector 35 on Saturday. Jewellers are on strike all over India to protest against government rule announced during the annual budget wherein PAN card is mandatory as a proof on gold purchases of Rs 2 lakh and above. Moreover, it was also announced that 1% excise duty would be applicable from April. As per JAC, over 1,000 showrooms and booths remained closed in the Tricity.
Vinod Talwar, president of jewellers ssociation, Chandigarh, said, "Our demand is very clear and simple that the government should reverse their decision about excise duty to be charged." Sources said that this had happened in 2005 and 2012 too but the government had rolled back their decision at that time following protests. Talwar said, "We are protesting against decision of the administration taken in January in which they had made a permanent account number (PAN) compulsory for all transactions beyond Rs 2 lakh."
A jeweller said, "If the inclusion of PAN card is made mandatory for transactions, people would start purchasing via other sources like smuggling." Talwar said, "We are opposing the governing measure which is hitting everyone very badly." Jewellers are also demanding that finance ministry should review the limit to Rs 10 lakh instead of Rs 2 lakh.
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