The traders' body will decide on next course of action after proposed strike on March 13
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), an umbrella body of market associations, called off its meeting scheduled for Sunday to decide upon the future course of action against the ongoing sealing drive in the Capital.
The meeting was proposed after the protesting traders were lathi-charged by police at the Old Double Storey (ODS) market in south Delhi's Lajpat Nagar-IV.
The association, which has 2,200 members, has decided to call off the meeting. However, they will meet discuss the next step after the 'Delhi Bandh' proposed for March 13.
Talking about the meeting, CAIT's general secretary Parveen Khandelwal, said: "For now we have called off the meeting. After the proposed Delhi Bandh, we will schedule our next meeting to discuss the future course of action."
Traders across the Capital have called for a Delhi Bandh on Tuesday, to register their protest against the ongoing sealing drive. Khandelwal also condemned the lathi-charge on traders and addressed it as a serious matter. "One of our fellow traders was seriously injured in the lathi-charge. We would approach higher authorities to address this issue and help him get justice," Khandelwal said.
A section of traders are against the idea of closing their shops to protest the sealing drive. Demanding a dialogue with the authorities, Vijay Jain, the general secretary of All India Traders Association (AITA) asked traders to deal with the matter through conversation and not strikes. "The sealing drive is aimed at closing shops and calling a Delhi Bandh would not yield any result. It is better to have a dialogue with the authorities to come to a proper conclusion," Jain said.
However, after whatever happened on Thursday, the traders have decided to put their shutters down for the third consecutive day on Saturday. Frightened of losing their premises, the traders now feel if they open their shops, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation may seal their premises. "Thursday was a bitter day for us. But, we hope the government would understand our condition and come up with a law to deal with this sealing issue soon," said Umesh a property dealer in Amar Colony area of Lajpat Nagar IV.
CONG CONTENDS
DPCC president Ajay Maken came down heavily on CM Arvind Kejriwal. He asked: “Why is the Delhi government not moving the Supreme Court? Why is Kejriwal focusing on hunger strike and amendments? He hires the best of lawyers for his personal defence. Why not do the same for traders? It seems he is not the chief minister but is in the Opposition. That is why he wants to sit on hunger strike.”
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