Delhi Sealing: Major Markets In The Capital City To Shut Down Today, Tomorrow

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has called for a bandh against Delhi sealing drive, and major markets in the capital city will shut down today and tomorrow. Markets in Kamla Nagar, Connaught Place, Chandni Chowk, Karol Bagh, Lajpat Nagar, Khan Market, South Extension, Greater Kailash, Tilak Nagar Lajpat Nagar, Defence Colony, Green Park, and Rajouri Garden will be closed as a protest against Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) have sealed thousands of shops alleging unauthorised construction.

“No commercial activity will take place and all wholesale and retail markets of Delhi will be completely shut.In addition to this, at least three days will be required for inviting public objections. We will continue to register our protest in different ways till a real change comes through,” said Praveen Khandelwal, national secretary-general of CAIT to Hindustan Times.

Delhi Congress Chief Ajay Maken met the members of the monitoring committee constituted by the Supreme Court and said that the sealing drive was illegal. “We are hopeful that no sealing will take place in special areas and village areas of Delhi,” he said, according to a report by The Indian Express.

Earlier, on January 23, thousands of shops in Krishna Nagar, Kamala Nagar, Karol Bagh, Khan Market, Greater Kailash 1 and 2, South Extension, Defence Colony, and Connaught Place remained shut. BJP, which is in power in the three municipal corporations in Delhi, expressed their solidarity with the traders and supported them.

What is the Delhi sealing drive?

The Delhi sealing drive was conducted by Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) in the capital city following the directions of a Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee. “The Delhi Master Plan- 2021 was made in 2007 by the Union Government in haste and had ignored the commercial and construction activities taking place in the city, leading to the present scenario,” the proposal stated, according to a report by DNA. MCD accused the AAP-led Delhi government and said that they did not pay any attention to the issue.

The drive started on December 22 with thousands of shops being sealed based on the instructions of the monitoring committee. The shops were sealed for encroachment, illegal construction, and non-payment of conversion charges, reports The Indian Express. The civic body has sealed over 500 commercial establishments so far including basements, eateries and showrooms for illegal construction and misuse of premises.

Kejriwal said that the sealing had affected lakhs of traders in the capital and alleged that Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal was keeping mum on the issue.

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