Manpreet visits shopkeepers in Bathinda

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 1

Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal went door to door to meet shopkeepers at the hospital market and the Sirki Bazaar here today to listen to their grievances.

Reacting to his visit, Sanjiv Jindal, a showroom owner, said, “Small traders don’t need sympathy. If the state government can waive electricity bills of farmers, why can’t they remit electricity bills of traders during the lockdown period?”

Manpreet said, “The business is quite affected in the market due to Covid-19. Some shopkeepers say there are times when not even a single customer visits their shop.”

He said he met shopkeepers so that he could raise their concerns with the Chief Minister and Cabinet ministers and relief could be extended to the community.

“Street vendors and kiosk owners are finding it very hard to make both ends meet. We are reaching out to every section of society to help them,” he added.

A trader told the Finance Minister that they were facing transport problems for getting their supply of material.

Gursharan Singh, president, Dhobi Bazaar Association, said they were finding it difficult to pay salaries to employees.

A city jeweller, Daravjit Thakur, suggested a few measures to the minister to stimulate economy in the state like provision of loans with a moratorium of at least 18 months to meet short to medium term liquidity of small and medium enterprises.