Sealing drive: 5 lakh shops keep shutters down in Delhi

The first day of the three-day strike called by Delhi traders saw an estimated 5 lakh shops remaining closed, with the Confederation of All India Traders claiming losses of around Rs 200 crore.

Shops kept shut all across the city to protest against the sealing of buildings listed as illegal constructions in residential areas. The exceptions were grocery, vegetable and fruit shops. Some restaurants and ATM counters also remained open.

While chemists kept their shutters down, their association has decided to open shops tomorrow in the wake of the Delhi government contemplating invoking the Essential Services Maintenance Act against them. The body said one chemist store would be kept open in every residential locality during the next two days of the strike.

Major markets in Delhi, including Connaught Place, Khan Market, Karol Bagh, and Kamla Nagar were closed. Several trade associations in the capital, including the New Delhi Traders' Association, Khan Market Traders' Association, and Janpath Traders' Association participated in the strike.

Normal life was partially affected, with the DTC diverting several bus services to avoid trouble-prone areas and the Delhi Metro suspending its operations on the Kashmiri Gate-Delhi University stretch for over six hours.

Many colleges of Delhi University and several private schools also remained closed. The strike has received support from major political parties. "We are with the traders on the issue of sealing. We support the strike, and we think the sealing drive in Delhi should stop," BJP spokesperson Arun Jaitley said.

Traders picketed the Delhi Assembly where the first day of the winter session was being convened. Over 1,500 protestors including a BJP MP and six MLAs were detained after a clash with police outside the Assembly.

Hundreds of traders and BJP leaders had gathered at the Vidhan Sabha to protest against the court-ordered sealing of commercial units in residential areas, scheduled to resume on November 1.