KASHIF HASNAIN (PHOTO/VIDEO BY SAURABH SHRIVASTAVA)
New Delhi: Popular wholesale and retail markets across the city are likely to remain closed on February 2, 3 and 4 in a protest against the ongoing sealing drive in the national Capital. The bandh call has been given by the Chamber of Trader and Industry (CTI) association and several other traders associations have offered support to it.
The decision was taken in a joint meeting of 100 traders’ organisations at the Constitution Club on Wednesday. The association has threatened that if the government did not adhere to their demands and reinstate normalcy we will extend it to indefinite strike.
“We want the Union Government to bring a bill in the Parliament, which is in function, to protect businesses and traders in Delhi. The bandh will be supported by all trade leaders from all over the country,” said national convenor of CTI, Brijesh Goyal adding that in three days if the government will not pass resolution we will go for indefinite strike.
Besides, the association has decided to hold rallies and peaceful protest during the bandh. “On February 2, we will march to Sardar Bazar, the following day, we will protest at Chandni Chowk. On the last day, we will gather at Raj Ghat for peaceful protest.”
While the secretary of CTI, Rakesh Kumar Yadav came down heavily on the governments and administration. He said, “If they don’t stop sealing our shops, we will seal the houses of MPs, MLAs and Minister.”
This would be the second time when the traders would observe a shutdown against sealing, which commenced in the city on December 22 under the SC-appointed monitoring committee.
Earlier on January 23, thousands of shops remained shut in markets such as Khan Market, Greater Kailash 1 and 2, South Extension, Defence Colony, Connaught Place, Karol Bagh, Kamla Nagar and Krishna Nagar. All major political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which is power in the three municipal corporations, has supported the traders’ demands.
