6 per cent excise duty on garments in the budget by the central government in 2001 was imposed. In protest against this, all the estates of Gandhi Nagar like Ashok Bazar, Ramnagar and Subhashnagar engaged in a symbolic indefinite bandh and protest demonstration.

Voices were raised against the tax hike, and in due time success was also achieved to a large extent. The shopkeepers whose annual turnover was less than one crore were exempted from excise. All the reputable shopkeepers took part in this protest. Dignitaries like. Mr Kanwal Kumar Balli (President), Mr Amar Chand Jain (General Secretary), Mr Naresh Sikka (Minister), Mr Subhash Kalda, Mr Hansraj Thukral, Mr. Harjeet Singh Billa ji”, S. Mr Sukhvir Singh "Chawla", Mr Hukam Chand Gupta, Mr Anand Jain G(Principal-Ramnagar), Mr Mammohan Mehra G(Vice-Principal Ramnagar), Mr Des Raj Malhotra G (Pradhan-Subhash Road), Mr Sunil Jain Pappi! G (General Secretary-Subhash Road), Mr Srikishan Mr Goyal, Mr Haricharan Goyal, Mr Ved Prakash Madan, and Mr Sukhmal Chand Jain (Pradhan-New Ashoka Market) also participated.