Intensifying ongoing agitation against sealing, more than 3000 trader associations in the national Capital announced to hold a mega rally on March 28 at Ramlila ground.
Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary General of ‘Confederation of All India Traders’ (CAIT) said that the rally will be non political and no political party will be invited to attend it. “To discuss and declare the strategy of making the rally a grand success, the CAIT has convened a meeting of trade associations of Delhi on 20th March at Constitution Club,” he said.
Khandelwal also demanded that instead of using force and resources to seal already constructed building, it will be more appropriate if action is taken on current unauthorised constructions and to stop future constructions. He demanded the Government to constitute a high level committee under the Chairmanship of Delhi lieutenant Governor to discuss how the next
‘Master Plan 2021-2041’ should be enforced in 2021. “It is ridiculous that local shopping centres are being asked for depositing conversion charges and sealing is conducted without giving any prior notice. The entire sealing proceedings are being run keeping aside the MCD Act, 1957,” Khandelwal said.
Owners of business establishments have been demanding that the central and the Delhi government to bring an ordinance for protection against sealing.
Traders in the national capital hit hard after building department of the municipal corporations had started sealing business establishments for non-payment of conversion charges, encroachment, and illegal construction on the instructions of the Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee. In the drive, thousands of shops have been sealed since last December and there is still no sigh of relief amid all the alleged efforts put up by all the stakeholders. Forced with the circumstances that seem to be incessant, traders associations have stalled all commercial activities several times by calling a total shut down and stalling businesses.