Lakhs of shops to be shut in protest of sealing in Delhi

Lakhs of shops in up to 2,500 markets will be closed and a public rally will be held here on Wednesday to protest the sealing drive, which saw permanent closure of thousands of stores across the National Capital.

The Chamber of Trade Industries (CTI) along with Confederation of All India Traders, Indian Industries and Trade Group, and Federation of Trade Association on Tuesdsay gave the shutdown call and organising of the rally at Ramleela Maidan.

At least one lakh people are estimated to join the demonstration against the Supreme Court's order to seal all illegal commercial establishments in the city.

CTI Convener Brijesh Goyal and head Subhash Khandelwal said the March 28 shutdown will be a historic one as it has been supported by all political parties, traders' associations, as well as more than 2000 other small and large-scale organisations.

At least 20 industrial areas and 20,000 transporters have also joined the shutdown call demanding that the Centre bring forth a bill or an ordinance to stop the sealing drive.

The markets to remain closed on Wednesday include Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar, Chawri Bazar, Connaught Place, Gandhi Nagar, Laxmi Nagar, Ashok Vihar, Rajouri Garden, Lajpat Nagar, Greater Kailash, South Extension, Sarojini Nagar, Kamla Nagar, Naya Bazar, Bhagirath Place, Lajpatrai Market, Kashmiri Gate, Preet Vihar, Shahadra, Krishna Nagar, Janak Puri, Tilak Nagar, Model Town and many more.

The traders have arranged for more than 500 buses to transport traders, their children, employees and other family members from markets to the venue.

According to CTI, more than 4000 shops have been sealed in the last three months, but no solution has been provided to those who lost their employment and businesses because of the drive.