Traders from Delhi, other states stage 'Sangharsh Sankalp Rally'

New Delhi, Dec 17 (UNI) Scores of agitating Delhi traders, opposing the Supreme Court ordered sealing drive, were today joined by traders from other states at the 'Sangharsh Sankalp Rally' in protest against the Government's ''callous attitude'' towards the community.

The traders, under the banner of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), resolved to fight sealing and other core problems concerning domestic trade.

They said they will oppose sealing in all states including Delhi.

''Political parties have taken the traders. We have decided to come together and convert this community in to a strong vote bank,'' CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said.

He said the forthcoming Assembly elections in UP, Uttranchal, Punjab and MCD elections in Delhi will prove to be a the ''acid test''.

Apart from stopping the sealing drive, the agitating traders have been demanding heavy reduction in conversion charges proposed by DDA, stoppage of sealing in DDA flats, regularisation of about 1,500 unauthorised colonies already identified by DDA, rehabilitation package for traders dealing in items listed in negative category and scrapping of locality categorisation which attempts to differentiate among traders.

Coming down heavily on political leaders, Mr Khandelwal said the political system has ''failed'' in protecting traders and citizens from the sealing.

''On one hand all political parties, the Centre and the State Governments are opposing sealing but on the other subjects of Government are continuing sealing drive,'' he added.

''The administration has also failed in placing proper facts on the issue in Courts. They are doing this to cover up their own shortcomings,'' he alleged.

Mr Khandelwal said the ''suffering'' of hundreds of traders were being ignored.

''The traders are paying for the administration's misdeeds and misrule of past more than four decades,'' he added.

Leaders from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana Punjab and Maharashtra attended the rally.

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