Namo chai: Varanasi jewellers protest against hiked excise duty

Varanasi: In a unique show of protest, the jewellers in Parliamentary Constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, distributed Namo chai (tea) against the increased excise duty on gold ornaments.

The jewelers have closed their shops since last eight days in protesting against the increased excise duty.

PAN card necessary for two cups of tea:

Though, the tea was being distributed for free of cost to by passer but a PAN card was necessary if one wanted to have another cup of tea.

“The Prime Minister was also a tea vendor, may be he understands our pain through this form of protest,” Prem Prakash, a jeweller said.

Shutter down since eight days:

The jewellers have kept their shops closed since last eight days and are protesting against it by selling vegetables, tea beside staging dharna and demonstrations.

Shutter down since eight days:

The jewelers have closed their shops since last eight days and are protesting against it by selling vegetables, tea and various other forms of agitation. A loss of approximately Rs 1 crore has been estimated due to this.