Will take up excise duty issue with PM Modi: Union Minister to striking jewellers

Gujarat MP and Union Minister Mohan Kundariya on Sunday said he will take up with Prime Minister Narendra Modi the excise duty issue raised by striking jewellers in an effort to resolve the matter.

The Lok Sabha MP from Rajkot said he will take along other MPs from Gujarat, a major gems and jewellery hub, for a meeting with Modi. Kundariya met the agitating jewellers in Rajkot, around 200 km from here.

Jewellers across Gujarat and other parts of the country are on an indefinite strike since the last ten days to protest the proposed 1% excise duty on gold and diamond jewellery and also mandatory PAN card clause for purchases of Rs 2 lakh and above.

After meeting the jewellers, Kundariya told reporters that both BJP as well as the Centre Government are trying hard to resolve the issue.

"Being the MP of Rajkot, I met these jewellers today to know their problems. Jewellers across India are agitating against the proposed excise duty. I have told them that both BJP as well as the Central government are trying their best to find a solution."

"In the coming days, all the MPs from Gujarat will meet the PM and make a representation about this issue. We will see this issue is resolved," said Kundariya, the Minister of State for Agriculture. Jewellers are demanding a rollback of the proposed excise duty (made in Union Budget) and also the decision to make mandatory the PAN card clause.