All major markets in Delhi open after 3-day strike

New Delhi, Nov 2: All major markets in the national capital opened today after remaining shut for three days as part of Delhi Trade Bandh to protest against sealing of commercial units in residential areas.

The business establishments opened even as the Supreme Court hearing applications filed by the Centre and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi today refused to defer the sealing operation.

The sealing drive that had to resume on November 1 did not re-start yesterday anticipating violence in view of the bandh and neither did it begin today after apex court-appointed monitoring committee decided not to resume the process due to the volatile law and order situation.

The three-day bandh had remained peaceful but for the unrest at the Assembly on October 30 and vandalism and road blocking yesterday. Demonstrations against the sealing drive were organised in various parts of the city.

About 1,500 agitating BJP workers and traders were rounded up for picketing the state Assembly. Some protestors and policemen had also received minor injuries in the incident on October 30.

Yesterday, over 350 people were detained and about 150 public transport buses torched by protestors.

More than 500 trade organisations had joined the bandh, which was supported by many organisations and state units of BJP and Congress.

Though government schools and most private schools were opened all the three days, attendance had remained thin.

Meanwhile, traders claimed that the bandh had caused an estimated loss of about Rs 1500 crore.

It claimed that Delhi Government alone incurred VAT revenue loss of about Rs 75 crore. Transport and courier services also suffered major business losses.

UNI