New Delhi: After keeping a low profile as the MCD resumed the sealing of unauthorised commercial establishments, traders in the Capital on Thursday gave a call a 24-hour 'Delhi bandh' on Friday.
In the wake of the resumption of the sealing drive, traders' associations in the Capital held a meeting in New Delhi, deciding to call a bandh in the city.
"We are calling a bandh to protest against the repressive policies of the government and the unjust treatment meted out to the trade leaders," said Ramesh Khanna, vice president of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT).
He said the traders were anguished over the manner in which CAIT General Secretary Praveen Khandelwal and other trade leaders were arrested on Wednesday. "They were not even shouting slogans. So why were they arrested?" he asked.
Khandelwal and three other traders' representatives were taken into preventive custody on Wednesday as the MCD resumed its sealing operations.
Khanna said all markets in the Capital, wholesale or retail will remain closed on Friday.
The traders have planned to carry out a 'Shanti March' from Town Hall, the MCD headquarters, to the Vidhan Sabha to protest against the sealing action.
"There will be no violence. Our protests will be completely peaceful," Khanna said.
The announcement of bandh by traders came as MCD continued with the Supreme Court-ordered sealing drive for the second day on Thursday.
The sealing drive has so far been more or less incident-free, witnessing little protests from the traders.
Patil briefs Cabinet on sealing issue
The controversial sealing drive in the national Capital figured at the Union Cabinet meeting on Thursday with Home Minister Shivraj Patil briefing the members on the latest developments on the issue.
"The Home Minister reported to the Cabinet the position after the Supreme Court order of three days ago and that the sealing had resumed on Thursday", Finance Minister P Chidambaram said.
Patil heads the Group of Ministers (GoM) on the sealing issue.
Asked whether any decision was taken to convene an all-party meeting, Chidambaram said this was not discussed in the Cabinet.
Comments
0 comment