To close shops or not: Rohtak traders in fix

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, September 26

Shopkeepers at main markets in Rohtak city are in a dilemma whether to open their shops tomorrow or not as traders’ associations have not clarified their stance over the Bharat Bandh call by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) against the three farm laws.

“The SKM has called upon traders to support the protest by closing their business establishments but we are in a fix as our market association has not yet issued any instruction in this respect. Customers residing in nearby villages are calling up to know if shops will remain open tomorrow or not,” said Pramod Kumar, a cloth merchant.

“Yesterday, representatives of protesting farmers requested us to keep our shops shut on Monday but we could not hold a meeting in this respect today. Hence, no call for closing shops has yet been given to traders. However, an emergency meeting may be held tomorrow morning if needed,” said Gulshan Ishpuniyani, president, Shouri Cloth Market Association.

Bittu Sachdeva, president, Quilla Road Traders’ Association, said the traders had already suffered heavy losses due to the Covid pandemic so they had not yet decided anything about the bandh call.

Hemant Bakshi, president, Rohtak Traders’ Association, said no farmer leader had so far contacted them for support. Hence, no call for shutting shops tomorrow had been given, but traders were free to take a call on their own as per the situation.

Meanwhile, Inderjit Singh, vice-president, All-India Kisan Sabha, said over 20 points had been earmarked on various highways passing through the district for installing blockades.