Jewellery associations complain of police harassment

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Apr 8, 2019

The India Bullion and Jewellers’ Association and the All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council have approached the chief election commissioner to voice complaints that jewellery businesses and customers are facing police harassment.

The IBJA and AIGJDC voiced concerns to the chief election commissioner and his state level counterparts that both jewellery businesses and customers have faced police harassment for carrying jewellery or cash worth over Rs 50,000 ($717.12), ET Bureau reported. The organisations reported that the harassment followed the new model code of conduct that came into effect from March 10 this year.

“There is fear in the trade and among the consumers over the recent incidents,” the AIGJDC chairman Anantha Padmanabhan told ET Bureau. “People are being harassed, resulting in sales not moving up even though there are a number of wedding dates in April.” 

As jewellers have had a tough time since demonetisation and the subsequent implementation of the goods and services tax almost two years ago, many businesses are in dire need of a turnaround. The organisations fear that police harassment could cause a further dip in sales during the current festive season which began on Gudi Padva, April 6, and will continue until May 7. 

“We are speaking to the state election commissioners in south India,” said Padmanabhan. “Our representatives are in Delhi, trying to meet the chief election commissioner and let him know about the situation.”