Traders hold mega rally, seek ordinance to stop sealing drive

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 15

The state unit of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) today held a mega rally at Ghanta Ghar in Chandni Chowk to protest against the ongoing sealing drive and demand that the government immediately brings an ordinance to stop the exercise.

The CAIT also urged the Delhi Government to convene one-day special session of the Assembly and pass a Bill to stop sealing drive that began from the Defence Colony market in December last year. The rally started from Red Fort and culminated at Ghanta Ghar where a public meeting was held and the traders put forth their demands.

“The MPs from Delhi in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are keeping silent, perhaps they have forgotten that they are the elected representatives and many more elections will be held in future. They should not test the patience of traders. Also, many have become jobless after the sealing of shops,” said CAIT secretary general Praveen Khandelwal.

The traders’ association demanded that the government should immediately begins preparations of a new Master Plan 2021-2041 and constitute a working group comprising trade representatives, senior officials, town planners, architects for the purpose under the chairmanship of the Lt Governor of Delhi, he said.

Khandelwal said yesterday, on the occasion of Valentine’s Day, a group of traders offered roses to passersby near municipal offices in central Delhi to draw their attention towards the issues they are facing because of the ongoing exercise.