Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should distance his government from Arun Jaitley as the finance minister would eventually "sink his [Modi's] ship" , reported The Indian Express. Kejriwal, who was addressing agitating jewellers at Jantar Mantar in the capital, said Modi has cheated the jewellers who had voted him to power by imposing excise duty on non-silver jewellery.

“Pata nahin Jaitleyji ne kya paath padhaya hai. Jaitleyji has full control. I am younger in age and smaller in stature and experience. Lekin chhota moonh badi baat keh raha hoon, Jaitleyji ka saath chhod dein… Dooba dega aapko [I don't know what Jaitleyji tells the PM. He had full control. Though I am younger in age and stature, I would like to advise Modiji to leave him. You will sink in his company],” said Kejriwal. He said the ruling party was no different from its predecessors when it came to imposing excise duty. Gold traders, jewellers and artisans have been observing a strike since March 2, a day after the Centre imposed 1 per cent excise duty on non-silver jewellery in the Union Budget.