Delhi traders down shutters, massive support for Bandh, say trader

New Delhi, May 11 (UNI) More than five lakh traders downed their shutters today pressing their demand for legislation in the ongoing session of Parliament to fully regularise all kinds of business establishments.

Commercial activities in several markets across the city came to a standstill in response to the bandh, which was called primarily to demand introducion of a Bill in Parliament to provide relief to people against the continuing sealing and demolition drive.

The Centre is to introduce a Bill in Parliament to provide interim relief from the ongoing sealing and demolition operation.

There was no trading activity as all commercial markets including those at Connaught Place, Chandni Chowk, Kashmiri Gate, Sadar Bazar, Karol Bagh, Pahar Ganj, Nai Sarak as well as several major markets in South, North and East Delhi remained completely closed in response to the Bandh call by the Confederation of All India Traders, Delhi Traders' Sangharsh Morcha, Karol Bagh Traders Federation and several other trade bodies.

''There has been a tremendous response to the Bandh with all markets being closed today,'' CAIT secretary general Praveen Khandelwal said.

Thousands of traders from all parts of Delhi also held a sangharsh rally at Jantar Mantar today to protest against the sealing of shops and demolition by the MCD.

The bandh also evoked much support from the BJP, which has been carrying out protests over the last one month against the demolition and sealing drive.

Senior BJP leaders Vijay Kumar Malhotra, Sushma Swaraj, Dr Harshvardhan and Sahib Singh Verma reached Jantar Mantar to support the Sangharsh rally.

Mr Malhotra and Ms Swaraj assured the traders that the BJP would fight for them in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

Dr Harshvardhan and Mr Verma said the BJP had been continuously fighting for the last 120 days.

''Until the Tuglaqi Congress Government kneels down and provide full relief to the people of Delhi, the BJP will continue its fight,''they said.

Terming the Delhi Bandh as successful, the BJP Pradesh president said the party had fully supported this Bandh. The party leaders, office bearers and workers had contributed in an unprecedented way for making the Bandh successful, he added.

''Today's Bandh has shown the unity of the people of Delhi to the Government. If the government does not wake up, then the people of Delhi shall be compelled to protect their shops and properties by taking law in their own hands,''Dr Harshvardhan said.

The traders are also demanding the Centre to introduce an amnesty scheme under which all business establishments as on date should be regularised.

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