Demonstrations, protests against sealing continue

New Delhi, Mar 31 (UNI) Demonstrations and protests by traders against the sealing of shops in residential areas by the Municipal corporation of Delhi continued throughout the city for the third day today even as a total of 274 commercial units were sealed.

The day saw massive protests by traders in areas like Rajouri Garden, Rohini, Karol Bagh, Pahar Ganj, South extension, Kashmiri Gate and Lajpat Nagar.

For example no sealing action could be done in the Najafgarh Zone till 1730 Hours as a heavy mob of protestors prevented MCD officials from carrying out their task, an MCD spokesperson said. The spokesperson said additional police force was being mobilised.

In the West zone, protesting traders sealed the zonal office of the Deputy Commissioner.

CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said more than 5000 traders assembled at the office of the MCD at West Zone and put a "peoples seal" at all entry as well as exit points.

Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Jagdish Mukhi, Leader of the Opposition in the MCD Subhash Arya, former Delhi chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana and former industries minister Harsharan Singh Balli extended their cooperation to the traders' movement by addressing the protestors.

In the Shahdara (South) Zone, agitating traders led by Delhi BJP chief Harshvardhan, who is area MLA stopped the work being carried out by the MCD officers. The protestors blocked the traffic at Swami Dayachand Marg situated in Shahdara District. Later on, the demonstrators including Dr Harshvardhan, were taken under preventive custody by the Delhi Police and lodged in the Krishna Nagar Police Station.

Before being arrested Dr Harshvardhan said that atrocities on such large scale were never inflicted upon the people.

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