Sheila Dikshit goes back on power directive

NEW DELHI: In a complete volte-face, the Delhi government, which on Friday had ordered all shops and commercial establishments to shut by 6:30 pm, assured traders that no such ruling would now come into effect.

The traders had a half hour meeting with the Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit on Saturday where she assured them that shops would not be shut early.

According to Praveen Khandelwal, secretary general of the Confederation of the All India Traders, "The CM has categorically said that the Delhi government has neither issued nor plans to issue any such notification. All shops will remain open till 11 pm and the labour department has also been notified of the same."The traders were thrown in a tizzy on Friday, when power minister Haroon Yusuf had issued directives to bring down the power demand in the city.

"We are already facing losses due to demolitions and sealings and then the government decided to shut down shops early too. It is summer, who will come in the afternoon to shop,” said Satinder Wadhwa, a shopkeeper.

The common man too has been left aghast. "How does the power minister think people will shop, as most people are working till 7 in the evening?” said Sarita Kalia, a resident of Defence Colony.