Vizianagaram goldsmiths seek Centre’s clarity on gold buying amid week-long protests

Key points

• The Vizianagaram Goldsmiths Association (Viswa Brahmin Swarnakara Sangham) president Bangaru Demullu and general secretary Tholeti Santosh on Friday (May 22, 2026) asked the Union government to issue a fresh clarification on gold buying, to protect workers who depend on the jewellery-making sector.
• Following a call by the association’s State president Karri Venumadhav, goldsmiths and workers at manufacturing units have been holding protests in Rajam, Cheepurupalli, Vizianagaram and other places for the past week.
• Speaking to the media here, Mr. Demullu said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s suggestion not to buy gold for a year had dealt a blow to the industry, which was already in a slump because of soaring prices of the yellow metal in the international market.
• Association representatives Manepalli Adinarayana, Appalabattula Somaraju, Kosuru Prasad and others asked the government to study the socioeconomic conditions of goldsmiths, saying most of them were leading a hard life after the entry...