AAP demands Centre to roll back 1% excise duty on gold

Aam Aadmi Party on Saturday demanded that the Centre roll back the 1% excise duty on gold and said they stand by the traders in Delhi who will hold a protest rally against the decision at Ramlila Maidan on March 17.

"BJP when it was in opposition had protested the then imposition of excise duty on gold tooth and nail forcing the UPA government to roll it back. Now, Arun Jaitley in the government has taken this decision," AAP leader Ashutosh told reporters here.

He said the AAP stands by traders across the country on this issue and will throw its weight behind it.

"We will hold protest soon and the traders in Delhi are holding a big rally at Ramlila Maidan on March 17 against this move. And we stand by them with full support," he said.

On prospects of AAP fighting Goa elections, Ashutosh said, "we will soon come out with a final decision on it, maybe within a month."

"As of now, I can say that the response has been very positive and people are looking for an alternative there. We are doing some groundwork there and our leader Arvind Kejriwal is likely to go and address rallies there soon. But, final decision is still awaited which will be taken by our PAC," he said.