Disappointed over being left out from the list of the Smart City Project, traders and shopkeepers of Meerut observed a day’s strike on Tuesday. Markets, petrol pumps, cinema halls and public schools remained close for the day. The trade unions and political parties too joined the protest.
The president of combined traders’ organisation, Naveen Gupta, said the Western UP’s historical city Meerut has been deprived of its right to be included in the list of 100 smart cities of the country. Accusing the local MP Rajendra Agrawal, Gupta said the MP did not pursue the case strongly hence the city lost the race.
Glorifying Meerut’s role in the freedom movement Gupta said the 1857 mutiny was ignited from here. The city boasts of a strong Army base as the sub-area command, Meerut College, one of the oldest colleges in the country. This city has always been a hub of political activities. “We are displayed as it has not been included in the list. Our demand is that this city which one of highest tax paying cities in the country should be included in the list of the smart cities,” the president of the market association demanded.
The city branch of Indian Medical Association, petrol pump dealers association, chemist and druggist association and the Bharatiya Janata Party supported the strike. The local BJP unit carried out a motorcycle procession. All the cinema halls, city schools, petrol pumps remained close for the day.