Jewellers have called off their 21-day strike today following a meeting with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee over their demand to rollback excise duty on gold and non-branded jewellery. Chairman of All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation, Bachharaj Bamalwa said, he has asked all associations to open their shops.

Talking to AIR, he said that the strike has been put off till the 11th of next month when Parliament is expected to take a final decision in this connection.

Talking to reporters after meeting Mr. Mukherjee in New Delhi, Mr. Bamalwa said that the Finance Minister has assured them that their demands will be considered sympathetically and an announcement will be made on the floor of Parliament.

Earlier in the day, the representatives also met Congress President Sonia Gandhi over the issue. AIR Correspondent reports that in the Budget 2012-13, the Finance Minister has proposed a hike in the import duty on gold bars, coins and platinum from two to four per cent and levied one per cent excise duty on unbranded jewellery.