PHOTO: SANDEEP SAXENA

Activists of the city Bharatiya Janata Party staging a demonstration at Vidhan Sabha against sealing in New Delhi on Monday.

NEW DELHI: Trading activity came to a standstill here on Monday as all major markets remained closed on account of the three-day Delhi bandh called by traders to protest against the sealing of illegal commercial establishments operating out of residences.

Traders also held a massive demonstration near the Delhi Assembly to seek relief from the sealing due to resume from November 1.

Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and workers joined the protest. Police had a tough time trying to stop them from moving towards the Old Secretariat where the 10-day session of the Assembly commenced amid tight security. Around 1,500 protesters, including some senior BJP leaders, courted arrest to register their concern.

Carrying black flags, effigies and banners, traders from across the city started assembling near the Delhi Assembly early on Monday. They were joined by a large number of BJP workers. As they started moving towards the Old Secretariat, the police, who had heavily barricaded all roads leading to the dharna venue at Chandgi Ram Akhara, stopped them. But the agitators were in no mood to relent. The police were compelled to use water cannon and mild force to disperse the crowd. They also arrested several people, including Confederation of All-India Traders general secretary Praveen Khandelwal.

BJP workers and leaders, including South Delhi MP Vijay Kumar Malhotra, Delhi BJP president Harsh Vardhan, Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Jagdish Mukhi, former MPs Sahib Singh Verma, Vijay Goel, Anita Arya and Lal Behari Tiwari and several sitting and former MLAs and Councillors also courted arrest.

Normal life in the city was affected due to the closure of markets and even medical stores. Attendance in Government schools was low as many parents did not send their children to schools fearing law and order problems. Many public schools had declared a holiday on Monday.

Metro service affected

Delhi Metro service was affected on the Kashmere Gate-Delhi University stretch for over six hours due to the traders protest in the area and because police had suggested closure of this section as a security measure.

There were traffic jams on several main roads as traders staged demonstrations. Vehicles piled up on the Ring Road between Wazirabad and ITO as traders, stopped by the police from moving towards the Delhi Assembly, took to protesting. This had a major cascading effect on other important roads as well.

Markets closed

Almost all major city markets remained closed, including those in the New Delhi Municipal Council areas like Connaught Place and Khan Market. There was no trading or business activity at Karol Bagh, Lajpat Nagar, Paharganj, Darya Ganj, Greater Kailash, Chandni Chowk, South Extension, Mayur Vihar, Kamla Market, Krishna Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Rohini, Rajouri Garden, Janakpuri, Tilak Nagar, Shahdara, Uttam Nagar, Sadar Bazar, Vikas Marg, GT Karnal Road, Yusuf Sarai, Shalimar Bagh, Punjabi Bagh, Azad Market and Naraina.

The bandh is likely to continue for another two days as almost all major market associations are supporting it. However, medical store owners have assured the Delhi Government that they would open their shops on Tuesday.

But the most crucial day will be November 1, the third day of the bandh when the Municipal Corporation of Delhi is to resume its sealing drive.

Traders are demanding a halt to the entire sealing drive till the Master Plan for Delhi 2021 is implemented.

"From November 1, more than 45,000-odd traders in posh A and B category colonies besides those engaged in hazardous and polluting business are facing sealing threat. When all the other traders have been given relief till January 31, they should also be spared.

"We want the Government to regularise all shops that have come till December 31, 2005. Till this is achieved we will continue with our agitation," said Mr. Khandelwal.

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