Delhi traders called for a day-long 'bandh' next week in protest against the ongoing sealing drive against illegal commercial establishments, and threatened to move their businesses to neighbouring cities.
The decision to close all markets in Delhi on March 13 was taken at a meeting convened by the Confederation of All India Traders, CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said.
The meeting was attended by leaders of more than 250 prominent trade associations of Delhi, Khandelwal said.
The traders demand that the Union government bring a legislation in the current session of Parliament to put a moratorium on sealing.
They urged Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to convene a one-day special session of the assembly and pass a bill to stop the drive that began from Defence Colony Market in mid-December.
"It has become difficult to trade in Delhi and if it continues, the traders will be forced to shift their businesses to neighbouring cities like Noida, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Bahadurgarh, Sonepat which will adversely affect the economy of Delhi," Khandelwal said.
He claimed the bungalows occupied by political parties and lawmakers in Lutyens' zone in central Delhi have largescale unauthorised construction. He asked why no action was being taken against them.
Civic bodies have undertaken the sealing drive initiated by a Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee on December 17 last year. The committee is sealing business establishments that are using residential properties for commercial purposes.
Commercial premises have been sealed for failing to deposit conversion charges according to provisions in Master Plan 2021.
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