Delhi sealing drive: Markets wear a deserted look as a mark of protest

Posh markets in the Capital wore a deserted look on Wednesday as they remained shut in protest against the ongoing sealing drive. Markets such as Greater Kailash-I and II, South Extension-I and II, Meherchand, Khan downed their shutters, losing out business to the tune of crores of rupees.

In the M-Block Market at GK-I, empty alleys presented a contrasting picture to the usual bustling scenes. The markets house some of the famous diamond jewellery showrooms besides big brands of clothes, multicuisine restaurants and cafes. The small shops that sell clothes, purses and other accessories, too, were closed for the day. "We were informed on Tuesday evening that we will not be opening our shops on Wednesday. This happened a few weeks ago too, and when we lost out on our day's earnings. It has become a routine but has not solved the problem. The monitoring committee continues to seal shops with impunity," said Rakesh Chabbra, a shopkeeper in GK-I.

The M-Block market in GK-II, too, wore a deserted look as all the cafes, restaurants, supermarket, small eateries and private offices were shut. Worst hit were the numerous salons that run in the market that had to cancel their appointments for the day. They rued to have lost business worth thousands, this being the wedding season. "We had pre-bridal and bridal appointments but had to cancel them at the last moment because of the strike. It not only proved detrimental to our business but also affected our reputation," said Lina Singh, working with a beauty salon in GK-I. Talking to DNA, Vikram Bhasin, president, GK-II Traders' Association said, "We lost business worth lakhs of rupees. We have held strike before but it has not helped till now. I am not against anyone and my fellow traders have my full support. I am simply saying that we should arrive at a feasible solution at the earliest."

Similar views were shared by Anshu Tandon of the Khan Market Welfare Association who said, "We were closed for half a day till around 1 pm. Calling for a strike is fine but is it eliciting the kind of result they are expecting?"