After MNS chief Raj Thackeray, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray too has expressed solidarity with city jewellers who are demanding a rollback of the one per cent excise duty on non-silver jewellery, and threatened to launch an agitation if the Centre does not resolve the issue.
A group of protesting jewellers representing the Mumbai Wholesale Gold Jewellers Association called on Uddhav at Sena Bhavan on Wednesday seeking the party’s support. The Sena chief assured the delegation that he will ask Shiv Sena MPs to raise this issue in New Delhi with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 4 after his return from Belgium.
“The Central government is not functioning in the right manner. If we (the Centre) can talk to Pakistan, or discuss Make in India with foreign investors, then why can’t we talk to jewellers’ associations?” Uddhav asked. Vinod Wadala, president, Mumbai Wholesale Gold Jeweller’s Association, said Uddhav assured them he will take out a rally from Girgaum Chowpatty to Azad Maidan which will be open to jewellers from all over the country. “Uddhavji’s support has given us a ray of hope,” Wadala told The Hindu
Uddhav also urged the Centre, the state government and the BMC to work together to find a solution to frequent fires at the Deonar dumping ground within three months. “Otherwise, the Shiv Sena will choose its own path to resolve the issue. Even if Shiv Sena is in power, administration and governance is the responsibility of the state government,” Uddhav said, putting the ball in BJP’s court.
He said the Sena did not contest seats in other states outside Maharashtra to prevent a division of Hindutva voters, but respecting the sentiments of local activists in other states, the party will field candidates in the upcoming elections in UP, Assam, and West Bengal.
The Sena chief assured the delegation that he will raise the issue with the PM
