Hit hard by the ongoing sealing drive by the municipal corporations on the recommendations of the Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee, aggrieved traders on Friday passed a unanimous resolution in a meeting and demanded 'Amnesty Scheme' to protect their interest. The meeting was attended by trade leaders of about 250 leading trade associations spread across the national Capital.
Traders demanded an 'Amnesty Scheme' to protect Delhi on "As is Where is basis" as on December 31, 2017 and demanded strict action for any violation in future and not only the traders but even officials should also be held responsible.
They also demanded that the Union Government should bring a Moratorium Bill on sealing in current session of Parliament and Delhi Chief Minister should convene a one-day Special Session of Assembly and pass a Bill to stop sealing in Delhi and forward the same to Central Government for its approval.
Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) secretary general Praveen Khandelwal said the situation has become so pathetic that "there is no platform where we can go and narrate our problems". We are not even made party to the judicial process, he added.
He further said that in a country, which upholds highest tradition of democratic and human rights , the traders are being uprooted without taking the ground realties into consideration and that too without giving any opportunity of defence.
The CAIT has already announced to observe a day long 'Delhi Trade Bandh' on March 13 to lodge their strong protest and resentment against sealing drive.
The officials of CAIT also condemned police lathicharge on Thursday on traders at lajpat Nagar where at least 350 shops sealed.
Several local businessmen led by the CAIT have been protesting against the drive, saying it was unfair and demanding Union Government to bring an Ordinance in Parliament to provide succour.
The CAIT has been alleging that the municipal corporations are sealing properties in "utter violation" of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957, which was passed by Parliament as a statutory Act.
In the sealing drive, thousands of shops have been sealed since last December and there is still no sign of relief amid all the coordinated efforts put up by all the regarding stakeholders.