Delhi traders call for a bandh on Tuesday

NEW DELHI: Traders in the national capital have called a 24-hour bandh on Tuesday to protest resumption of sealing drive.

"We have called for a traders' bandh in the capital tomorrow to protest against the resumption of sealing drive," Confederation of All India Traders Vice President Ramesh Khanna said.

He said the traders' body has asked the shopkeepers to protest "peacefully" in their areas by orgainsing marches and dharnas.

This is the fourth bandh call by the traders to protest the drive against unauthorised commercial establishments in residential areas.

The CIAT had earlier organized two one-day strikes on May 11 and September 20 while a three-bandh from October 30 was the previous one.

The September 20 bandh had witnessed largescale violence across the city and five people lost their lives in North East Delhi's Seelampur in police firing.

"The government is fully aware of the humanitarian aspects involved and we hope it will take an appropriate decision, including a constitutional amendment," Secretary General of CAIT Praveen Khandelwal said.

"A constitutional amendment is the only way to save the traders from the clutches of sealing," he added.

Refusing to provide any relief to traders running unauthorised business establishments in residential areas, the Supreme Court dismissed applications of the Centre, Delhi government and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and asked the authorities to resume the sealing drive.