Traders take to streets during Delhi Bandh, block traffic

New Delhi, Sep 20: Normal life in Delhi was brought to a standstill today as traders, angry over the continued sealing of their shops by the MCD, took to the streets during the Delhi Bandh by downing shutters and resorting to traffic blockages and violent protests.

Shops in all major markets of Delhi, including old Delhi's Chowri Bazaar, Connaught Place, Greater Kailash, South Extension, Lajpat Nagar, Paharganj, Azadpur, Rajouri Garden and many others remained closed in respose to a call for Delhi Bandh, The call was given by the Confederation of all India Traders in protest against continuing sealing of shops despite the Delhi Government notifying nearly 2200 roads and streets in the capital as commercial/mixed use areas.

The Bandh, being supported by more than 500 trade bodies in different areas of the capital, saw traders giving vent to their anger by organising 'chakka jams' (traffic blockages) all over the national capital, specially at major traffic intersections including South Extension, Vikas Marg, Madhuban Chowk and Mayur Vihar.

In fact, roads connecting the satellite towns of Noida and Gurgaon to Delhi were subjected to blockages for several hours.

The Noida-Delhi road was blocked since 1000 hours till late in the afternoon.

The protesting traders resorted to blockades at Janakpuri, Moti Nagar, Vikas Marg, Paharganj Chowk, Wazirabad, Raja Garden, Ashram Chowk, Mathura Road, Kanahiya Nagar, Madhuban Chowk, Munirka, Dwarka flyover, Jail Road and several other places. This led to disruption of normal life in various areas with thousands of office goers unable to reach their destination.

Some areas like Rohini, Punjabi Bagh, Bhajanpura, Laxmi Nagar and Wazirabad also witnessed violent protests by traders who smashed window panes of cars and buses and even indulged in stone pelting at the police, the secretary general of the Confederation Praveen Khandelwal said.

Traders participating in the protest dharnas in various parts raised slogans against the MCD. Mr Khandelwal said the response to the Bandh had been unprecedented as more than 10 lakh traders all over Delhi downed their shutters. In fact, even medicine traders, who are out of the purview of sealing following recent amendment in the Master Plan, extended their support.

Essential commodities and public transport have, however, been kept out of the purview of the bandh.

The bandh was met with support from the BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal and the Swadeshi Jagran Manch.

Delhi BJP chief Harshvardhan participated in dharnas at Moti nagar in West Delhi and Vikas Marg in East Delhi.

Declaring its support to the traders, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) National general secretary Onkar Singh Thapar had yesterday appealed to all Akali Dal office bearers and the Sikh community to close their shops during today.

According to traders, the MCD continued with the sealing action despite the September 15 notification by the Delhi Government.

''They are kneeling before the courts, they are begging the Government and they are now also begging the RWA's. The traders are being treated as aliens as if they do not belong to the city and are illegal resident,'' the traders said.

''Today the traders are dangling between the courts and the Government. Frustrated and angered by the spate of things, they are knocking the doors of the Government for seeking relief. It is strange that in a democratic country, that prides itself for the cause of fundamental and human rights of citizens, exploitation and violation is at its peak. All pleadings are falling on deaf ears,''Mr Khandelwal said.

UNI