The Hindu : Front Page : Bandh brings Capital to a halt

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 31, 2006
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Front Page

Bandh brings Capital to a halt

Staff Reporter

All major markets closed; roads jammed by protesting traders

NEW DELHI: Trading activity in the Capital came to a complete standstill on Monday with all major markets closed on account of the three-day "Delhi bandh" called by the traders in protest against the sealing drive targeting illegal commercial establishments in the residential areas. A large number of traders also held a massive demonstration near the Delhi Assembly demanding relief from the sealing drive due to be resumed from November 1.

Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and workers joined the traders in their protest and the police had a tough time trying to stop them from marching towards Old Secretariat where a 10-day session of the Assembly began amid tight security. Nearly 1,500 protesters, including some senior BJP leaders, courted arrest to register their anger and anguish at the situation.

Carrying black flags, effigies and banners, traders from across the city started assembling near the Assembly early in the morning. They were joined by a large number of BJP workers. As they started moving towards Old Secretariat, the police - who had barricaded all roads leading towards the dharna venue at Chandgi Ram Akhara -- stopped them. However, the traders and the BJP workers were in no mood to relent and they stepped up their agitation.

At this the police used water cannons and mild force to disperse the crowd. They also arrested several traders including Confederation of All-India Traders' general secretary Praveen Khandelwal.

BJP workers and their leaders including the Member of Parliament from South Delhi, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, Delhi BJP president Harsh Vardhan, Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Jagdish Mukhi, former MPs Sahib Singh Verma, Vijay Goel, Anita Arya and Lal Behari Tiwari and several sitting and former MLAs and municipal councillors also courted arrest.

Normal life in the city was affected due to the closure of markets. Medical stores also remained shut in protest. Government schools saw thin attendance as many parents did not send their children to school for fear of law and order problems. Unsure of the situation on the first day of the three-day bandh, many of the prominent public schools across the city had declared a holiday on Monday beforehand.

Delhi Metro railway service on the Kashmere Gate-Delhi University stretch was suspended for over six hours due to the traders' protest in the area. The police authorities suggested closure of this section as a security measure.

Huge traffic jams were witnessed on several main roads across the city including Ring Road as traders staged demonstrations. Vehicles piled up on the road between Wazirabad and ITO as traders who were stopped by the police from moving towards the Delhi Assembly took to impromptu protests. This had a major cascading effect on other important roads as well. The major markets across the Capital that remained closed included those in Connaught Place and Khan Market. There was no trading or business activity in Karol Bagh, Lajpat Nagar, Paharganj, Darya Ganj, Greater Kailash, Chandni Chowk, South Extension, Mayur Vihar, Kamla Market, Krishna Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Rohini, Rajouri Garden, Janakpuri, Tilak Nagar, Shahdara, Uttam Nagar, Sadar Bazar, Vikas Marg, GT Karnal Road, Yusuf Sarai, Shalimar Bagh, Punjabi Bagh, Azad Market and Naraina.

The bandh is likely to continue for another two days as almost all the major market associations are supporting the 72-hour agitation. However, medical store owners have ensured the Delhi Government that they will open their shops on Tuesday.

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