After Bharatiya Janata Party’s announcement of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi’s name for the party’s prime ministerial candidate, jewellers and traders from Mumbai and in the state are pledging their support. Developers too met Modi recently to express their support.
An officebearer of Bombay Bullion Association, a body of city traders and jewellers, said they’re upset with Congress for the arbitary ban on gold import, which has “killed business”.
Mukesh Mehta, joint director of Bombay Bullion Association, told dna that 10tonnes of gold was imported in the last three months against a demand for 120tonnes.
“The government’s faulty policies are to blame. And we’re bearing its brunt,” he said.
Mehta said that if the saffron party comes to power at the Centre, Modi would change the face of India. “Almost 30,000 tonnes of undisclosed gold is lying in India. The government should start a scheme where people disclose their gold. Banks must be allowed to take gold as mortgage against loan. It will bring out a lot of gold into the market,” said Mehta.
A politial observer said the business community’s support for Modi could impact the Congress’s fortunes.
Chief of the saffron party’s Mumbai unit, Ashish Shelar, said such support would help his party win maximum seats in the 2014 polls.
