<p> Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi today alleged that Budget proposal to impose 1 per cent excise duty on non-silver jewellery, is an "assassination attempt" on small traders and workers, who he claimed were being "crushed" by the Centre.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"This is not excise but an assassination attempt on small traders and workers," he said addressing a jewellers' rally at Jhaveri Bazar in South Mumbai. Jewelers have been on strike since March 2 demanding a rollback of proposed 1 per cent excise duty on non-silver jewellery.<br /><br />"It is the government's job to balance things in the country. The government job is that of judge and not of lawyer," Rahul said.<br /><br />"The problem before India is that the central government is doing job of the lawyer and not judge," he said.<br /><br />It is oppression of the weaker sections, Rahul said.<br />"Big five-six corporates and the government together sought to snatch away farmers land but Congress stood with farmers. The government then backtracked," he said.<br />Three times the government wanted to enact the Land Bill but farmers and Congress didn't let that happen," he said.<br /><br />The government thinks that it can easily crush you (jewellers) that is why they have attacked you, he said.<br /><br />This is not excise but an assassination attempt on small traders and workers. The reality is your work is sought to be given to a handful of big companies, Rahul said.<br /><br />The seven crore workers engaged in your trade are being crushed, he said.<br />"Congress will raise this issue in Parliament," he said.<br /><br />'Make in India' is needed but justice is also needed. One way development won't benefit anyone, Rahul said.<br /><br />MPCC president Ashok Chavan and MRCC chief Sanjay Nirupam said Rahul was in Mumbai to show Congress' solidarity with the agitating jewellers.<br /><br />Former Union minister Milind Deora said the 45-day-old agitation by jewellers is "unprecedented" in the country.<br /><br />The traders asked me to invite Rahul Gandhi to Mumbai, he said.<br />Jewellers representative I Singhal alleged their leaders Fatesingh Ranka was "threatened" by a minister in the BJP-led government.</p>
<p> Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi today alleged that Budget proposal to impose 1 per cent excise duty on non-silver jewellery, is an "assassination attempt" on small traders and workers, who he claimed were being "crushed" by the Centre.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"This is not excise but an assassination attempt on small traders and workers," he said addressing a jewellers' rally at Jhaveri Bazar in South Mumbai. Jewelers have been on strike since March 2 demanding a rollback of proposed 1 per cent excise duty on non-silver jewellery.<br /><br />"It is the government's job to balance things in the country. The government job is that of judge and not of lawyer," Rahul said.<br /><br />"The problem before India is that the central government is doing job of the lawyer and not judge," he said.<br /><br />It is oppression of the weaker sections, Rahul said.<br />"Big five-six corporates and the government together sought to snatch away farmers land but Congress stood with farmers. The government then backtracked," he said.<br />Three times the government wanted to enact the Land Bill but farmers and Congress didn't let that happen," he said.<br /><br />The government thinks that it can easily crush you (jewellers) that is why they have attacked you, he said.<br /><br />This is not excise but an assassination attempt on small traders and workers. The reality is your work is sought to be given to a handful of big companies, Rahul said.<br /><br />The seven crore workers engaged in your trade are being crushed, he said.<br />"Congress will raise this issue in Parliament," he said.<br /><br />'Make in India' is needed but justice is also needed. One way development won't benefit anyone, Rahul said.<br /><br />MPCC president Ashok Chavan and MRCC chief Sanjay Nirupam said Rahul was in Mumbai to show Congress' solidarity with the agitating jewellers.<br /><br />Former Union minister Milind Deora said the 45-day-old agitation by jewellers is "unprecedented" in the country.<br /><br />The traders asked me to invite Rahul Gandhi to Mumbai, he said.<br />Jewellers representative I Singhal alleged their leaders Fatesingh Ranka was "threatened" by a minister in the BJP-led government.</p>