Patiala traders protest ‘partial’ closure

Tribune News Service

Patiala, May 4

Shopkeepers in the city today held protests at separate sites against a ‘partial’ closure of markets alleging loss of business. The shopkeepers demanded that the administration should either shut all markets or allow all shops to function as usual.

Rakesh Gupta of the Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal, Patiala, said disgruntled shopkeepers of various areas, including Lakkar Mandi, Mathura colony, Gurbaksh colony, fountain chowk, Nabha gate and Dharampura bazaar, held protests.

“All shopkeepers of Patiala city are protesting the state government’s decisions and guidelines with respect to the curbs imposed by it to check Covid-19 spread. While some shops have been asked to remain shut, the others are allowed to function. We demand if the state government wants to impose curbs, then all offices, including government offices, should also be kept closed,” he said.

The spread of Covid-19 cannot be checked by closing shops only. “We will support the closure if every office is closed,” he said.

Shopkeepers of the Dharampura bazaar also held a protest in the market. “We do not agree with the partial lockdown. They should enforce a complete lockdown. Even the traffic in the city continues as usual,” a shopkeeper said.

He said all shopkeepers of the city would hold a protest at the Anardana chowk in the city on Wednesday.

Directives as per govt orders: SDM

SDM of Patiala Charanjit Singh said the administration had issued the directives as per the orders of the state government. “The government has taken the decisions keeping in mind the need of the hour as well as the benefit of people. People should follow the guidelines which are devised to save them from infection,” he said, adding that the orders as per section 144 of the CrPC are in force and people should not gather at a place in the city.