As a mark of respect to former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who passed away on Monday, retailers, milk dealers and petrol pumps will down shutters on Thursday. Many of them will remain closed during his funeral.
According to A.M. Vikramaraja, president, Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peramaipu, retailers will down shutters from 6 a.m. to noon.
“We will open the shops after the funeral is over. This time, medical shops too have agreed to join us for a short while in paying our respects,” he said. The Peramaipu also demanded that the former President’s birth anniversary be designated as Students’ Day.
Milk dealers, who supply around 60 per cent of their milk through retailers, will remain closed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. said Tamil Nadu Milk Dealers Welfare Association president S.A. Ponnusamy. “Some of us have reduced the indent as shops will be closed and milk will go waste,” he said. There are over 12,000 milk dealers in Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram and over a lakh in the State, who will participate in candle light marches and silent prayers on Thursday.
Meanwhile, petroleum dealers have also said that 4,470 stations across the State will be closed for an hour from 10 a.m. According to Tamil Nadu Petroleum Dealers Association president K. P. Murali, this will be their last salute to India’s missile man. “I am sure customers will understand and join us in paying respects to him,” he said.
