New Delhi, February 2: A two-day bandh has been called by traders and businessmen in the national capital to protest against the ongoing sealing drive. The bandh, that will be observed on Friday and Saturday, has been called by industry body--Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT).  Praveen Khandelwal, Confederation Of All India Traders said almost 2500 markets will be closed as the protests march against sealing would be taken out by businessmen in around 500 markets. He further added saying that the  ongoing sealing is very harmful to our economy.

Somnath Bharti, DDA member &AAP MLA said it’s the BJP's duty to fill loopholes in the master plan as it is in power in centre & MCD. “Sealing could've been prevented if BJP did that. All legitimate demands of CM Kejriwal have been approved in a meeting. These demands will be put in the public domain”, he was quoted by ANI.

Meanwhile, Vijender Gupta, DDA member & BJP MLA said three proposals about amendments in 2021 master plan of Delhi have been passed. He informed that the period of a proposal being put in public domain has been reduced from 45 days to 3 days and said that the proposal will be approved in another DDA meeting of LG house after 3 days.

Despite the government’s decision to amend the Delhi Master Plan (DMP) 2021, the Confederation of All India Traders that boasts the support of nearly 2,000 traders decided for a bandh in the national capital.  Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on January 31 had said the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) was in the process of amending the Delhi Master Plan 2021 to provide relief to the traders from the ongoing sealing drive.

Praveen Khandelwal, national secretary-general of CAIT was quoted by Hindustan Times said that no commercial activity will take place during the bandh.  "To lodge a strong protest against the arbitrary sealing of commercial establishments in Delhi, the CAIT has called for a complete shutdown in which more than seven lakh business establishments and 2,500 markets will participate”, he said.

The two-day bandh comes after CAIT observed a day-long 'Delhi trade bandh' on 23 January against the ongoing sealing of business establishments in the national capital. "Prior to this, the traders will 'gherao' Delhi MPs and MLAs and will submit their memorandum," CAIT said in its statement earlier. Reports further said that about 100 traders from all across India will march from Red Fort to Town Hall in Chandni Chowk on Saturday.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 02, 2018 11:47 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).