Shopkeepers hold a candlelight protest against illegal vendors at the Sector 17 Plaza in Chandigarh on Wednesday.
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 12
Traders of Sector 17 observed a complete blackout for an hour from 5.30 pm to 6.30 pm today in protest against the non-implementation of the no-vending zone decision. The traders closed their shops and held a candlelight protest.
Neeraj Bajaj, president of the joint action committee of Sector 17, said unauthorised vendors had occupied working space in the shopping complex.
Jagdish Pal Singh Kalra, a trader, said they were selling fake products and unhealthy food. They were using gas cylinders to cook, which was prohibited in the open as it could cause a fire hazard.
He said the heart of the City Beautiful was bleeding and Sector 17 had become a “phari wala market”.
Traders representing various organisations also joined the protest and assured full support. The traders blocked traffic at the MC roundabout for half an hour. They took a pledge that the agitation would continue in a peaceful manner till the no-vending zone decision was implemented.
Subhash Kataria, another trader, said on December 14, traders would assemble at the MC office to “awaken” MC officials with “dhol and nagara” beats. They would organise a “phari bazaar” on December 17.
The traders said they had been forced to adopt the protest path to protect the Sector 17 market from further damage, which had already lost its beauty and business as it was swarming with vendors, who should be removed from the market.
Sanjay Tandon, city BJP president, said he had already taken up the matter with the UT Administrator, who had assured him that the glory of the market would be restored soon.
‘Forced to protest’
The traders said they had been forced to adopt the protest path to protect the Sector 17 market from further damage, which had already lost its beauty and business as it was swarming with vendors, who should be removed from the market. They took a pledge that the agitation would continue in a peaceful manner till the no-vending zone decision was implemented
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