'Trade Bandh' in Delhi to Oppose Sealing Drive, All Major Markets Remain Shut

New Delhi, Mar 13: All major markets in Delhi will remain shut today as the consortium of major trade unions in the national capital have called a one-day 'trade bandh'. The protest is being organised to oppose the sealing drive unleashed by the municipal corporations on direction of the Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), a consolidated body of over 2,500 trade unions in NCR, issued the bandh call on Monday. Over seven lakh traders would be participating in the protest, said the statement issued by CAIT.

Among major markets will which will remain non-functional, include Karol Bagh, Sadar Bazaar, Kamla Nagar, Ashok Vihar, Vikas Marg, Preet Vihar, Model Town, Azadpur, Kalkaji, Chandni Chowk, Connaught Place, Lajpat Nagar, Amar Colony, Khan Market, South Extension and Greater Kailash, among others.

The Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) have also extended support to the trade bandh, demanding the central and state governments' immediate intervention.

A 'vyapari panchayat' has also been called by CAIT president Praveen Khandelwal in Karol Bagh today, where thousands of traders are expected to attend.

Khandelwal also led a delegation of traders to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday. The delegation was recommended by Singh to present a charter before Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal.

The CAIT, however, demanded Singh to press the Centre for enacting a special legislation in the Parliament which could overturn the sealing of commercial entities in residential areas -- as ordered by the Supreme Court.

The traders' body has also appealed the Arvind Kejriwal-led government in the state to "bring a bill which could stop sealing" on March 16, when the Delhi Assembly would reconvene.

CAIT has also demanded the Chief Minister to notify 351 roads for "mixed land use", which could give legal protection to commercial shops in residential localities.

The traders' body had called a similar bandh for 48 hours on February 2-3. Following their agitation, an interim relief came from the top court which stayed the sealings to review the Delhi Master Plan 2021.

The sealings, however, resumed after the top court on March 7 brushed aside the recommendations made in the master plan for 2021.

The court held the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the state government and Centre responsible for the non-implementation of the sealing drive despite being ordered back in 2006.

The sealings, being conducted under the monitor of a court-appointed committee, discontinued after 2012, when the state government proposed the Delhi Master Plan 2021, which allowed commercial establishments to run simultaneously in residential areas.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 13, 2018 10:47 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).