They were arrested in China for diamond smuggling; industry leaders could not ascertain if matter was taken up during Chinese premier Wen Jiabao’s visit.
The fate of Gujarati diamond traders, in jail in China for almost a year now, remains uncertain, as it could not be ascertained whether the issue came up for discussion between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Thursday.
According to industry leaders, the issue of the 21 jailed diamond traders, arrested on charges of smuggling, was on the agenda to be discussed by the two leaders during their talks on Thursday.
While the two prime ministers agreed on a host of issues, including raising bilateral trade to US $ 100 billion in five years, it could not be immediately ascertained whether the issue of the jailed diamond traders figured in their talks.
"We had represented to the Indian government to raise the issue during Chinese premier Wen Jiabao's visit. We do not know whether the issue was discussed between the two leaders, and if yes, what the response of the Chinese side was," said Rajiv Jain, chairman of The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC).
This comes as bad news for family members of the jailed traders who are praying for their quick release from Chinese prison. Industry leaders, however, said that a clear picture about the talks between the two leaders is likely to emerge by tomorrow, when they speak to officials in the government.
Twenty-one Gujarati diamond merchants, most of them belonging to Surat and Mumbai, were caught in China's Shenzhen province in January on charges of diamond smuggling. The arrested were allegedly taking diamonds into Shenzhen without paying taxes, when they were caught.
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