The Hindu : New Delhi News : Mixed response to "Delhi bandh''

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 22, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Mixed response to "Delhi bandh''

Staff Reporter

Protest against the move to close commercial units in residential areas

NEW DELHI: The daylong "Delhi bandh'' called by nearly 500 trade organisations in protest against the move to close commercial units operating out of the Capital's residential areas evoked a mixed response on Tuesday.

Traders, small industrialists and their employees took out protest rallies, sat on dharnas and conducted "chakka jam" in various parts of the city during the day to register their anger and anguish at the prospect of losing their livelihood due to sealing of shops by the authorities from March 29 in compliance with court orders for closure of all commercial units on more than 180 roads across the Capital.

Confederation of All India Traders secretary-general Praveen Khandelwal, claimed that the bandh was a success as about 5 lakh small and big traders participated in it while about 25 lakh employees working for them remained absent.

He said the bandh had caused a loss of about Rs. 250 crores in all and the Government lost about Rs. 20 crores in revenue due to it.

He wondered what was preventing the Government from changing the laws to ensure that 50 lakh people of Delhi did not suffer on account of the existing laws.

The effect of the bandh was felt in several parts of the Capital such as Karol Bagh, Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar, Rajouri Garden, Lajpat Nagar, Greater Kailash, South Extension, Hauz Khas, Vikas Marg patel Nagar and Paharganj. In most of these places the bandh was a success as the shops remained closed all through the day.

However, at some places such as Shalimar Bagh, Rohini and Pitampura most of the markets remained open as panicky traders continued with their clearance sales to dispose of their stocks before the court order comes into effect.

Similarly, most markets not affected by the court order did not participate in the bandh. Most local shopping complexes in regular colonies also remained open

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