The nation-wide strike called by the jewellers is likely to end on Sunday and the shops may re-open on Monday. The strike which was extended thrice has now less hope of being extended further as the jewellers have to close their accounts for the year ending on March 31. The decision of whether to end the strike or not, will be taken on Sunday.
On the ninth day of the strike on Saturday, the jewellers of Ahmedabad also took out a rally in which more than 500 jewellers participated.
"On Friday, we went on dharna and protested against the central government's duty hike over gold. Our rally on Saturday too was successful," said president of Choksi Mahajan Association, Harshvadan Dhaya Choksi.
In the morning, the rally of more than 200 two-wheelers took off from Manek Chowk, covering Astodia, Ellisbridge, Ashram Road and Mithakali, went to CG Road. "The jewellers of western part of the city joined us from CG Road and more than 500 jewellers went to Income Tax crossroads to protest the duty hike announced by the finance minister in the budget," said Choksi.
The association is keen to open the shops on Monday. "Sunday will be tenth day of the strike. Currently, all the jewellers have closed their book of accounts for the year ending on March 31. Hence, we cannot afford to keep the shops closed even one more day. So we want to open the stores on Monday," said Choksi.
The strike which has been called by jewellers across the nation, aims at putting pressure on central government to roll-back the duty hike.
"We have not got any hint from central government on whether they are even considering the rolling back of duties. The Bombay Bullion Association has decided to open the market and shops on Monday," said president of the Bombay Bullion Association, Prithviraj Saremal Kothari.
In Ahmedabad, the decision will be taken on Sunday. "The jewellers of the city will meet at noon on Sunday and accordingly decide whether to end strike or to extend it further," said director of AB Jewels, Manoj Soni.
