Delhi markets shutdown highlights: Market shutdown takes effect on day one; BJP, AAP trade charges

Delhi markets on shutdown Highlights:

5:20 pm: “We have opened our shop for 30 minutes only because a customer urgently needed something,” said Shyam Lal of Shyam Book Depot.

5:15 pm: Barring five to six shops out of 156 in Meherchand Market, all are closed till Sunday. “Till we get the documents from the DDA, the market will be shut. It’s a huge loss daily for us. Those who’ve kept their shops open have done so because they’ve rents to pay,” said Sameer Arora, secretary, Meherchand Market Traders’ Association.

5:01 pm: while the sealing has hit traders, both BJP and AAP claiming to be working to alleviate there problems. Delhi Development Authority has npw taken a series of decions to provide relief to Delhi traders.

सीलिंग से व्यापारियों को राहत दिलाने की भाजपा की मेहनत रंग ला रही है। DDA की बैठक में पास हुए प्रस्ताव।@ManojTiwariMP @Gupta_vijender pic.twitter.com/qMN6A7xhvQ

— BJP Delhi (@BJP4Delhi) February 2, 2018

4:40 pm: Sanjay Singh said that the traders who were already facing the ire of GST and demonetisation the government has completely destroyedf them with the decision of sealing their shops.

4:35 pm: AAP legislator Somnath Bharti blames BJP for the mismanagement and sealing of shops in the national capital.

"आज यह बात जगजाहिर हो गई कि भाजपा जो कि केंद्र में, एमसीडी में, DDA में भी है और जिसके पास मास्टर प्लान को अमेंड करने का अधिकार है, उसने अपना काम नहीं किया,
दिल्ली के व्यापारियों पर सीलिंग का जो कहर ढाया जा रहा है इसका सिर्फ और सिर्फ भाजपा ही कारण है"- @attorneybharti pic.twitter.com/6DqPTtB4Lh

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 2, 2018

3:55 pm: The sealing issue is now rocvking the Rajya Sabha and is now listed to be discussed on Monday.

"सदन के समक्ष संसदीय कार्य मंत्री विजय गोयल ने झूठ बोला की हमने सीलिंग पर चर्चा करने के लिए कोई नोटिस नहीं दिया गया, अब हमें बताया गया है कि अब सोमवार पर इस पर चर्चा होगी"- AAP के राज्यसभा सांसद @AAPNDGupta pic.twitter.com/tYHUHIm0ty

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 2, 2018

3:02 pm: AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh says, “AAP’s MPs in the Rajya Sabha have strenuously voiced their tone on the sealing issue, will the BJP MPs raise this issue concerning the interest of 7 lakh businessmen of Delhi?”

3:01 pm: AAP has been headed to protests at LG House when they were stopped by the Delhi Police.

Must Watch..
Reaction on outcome of LG's meeting, as a result of @AAPDelhi's protest to stop Sealing under the leadership of @dilipkpandey. pic.twitter.com/O3z3J4MIsF

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 2, 2018

2.00 pm: Meanwhile, some shops in Khan market opened after 1 pm and a few shoppers were seen in the area.

Some shops in Khan market opened after 1 pm. (Express photo)

1.19 pm: Not just South and Central Delhi, East Delhi too has been affected by the bandh. A majority of shops in Laxmi Nagar and Shakarpur areas in east Delhi are closed due to the protest against the ongoing sealing drive in the city.

See photos of Delhi markets shutdown in protest over sealing drive

12.57 pm: Defence Colony market association president Rajender Malik said the whole of Delhi had illegal basements but action was never taken against them. “In less than a month, they have come here twice. This is the second time the sealing drive has been undertaken at the market. Earlier, on December 22, over 50 commercial units were sealed. We will stage an indefinite bandh if they do not stop stealing,” Malik said.

The Defence Colony market association president said they would stage an indefinite bandh if stealing was not stopped. (Express photo by Abhinav Rajput)

12.50 pm: Commenting on the sealing drive, Rajender Sharda, chairman of M Block GK1 traders’ association, said, “Our basements were sealed in 2007 and were opened in 2009. This is an LSC (Local Shopping Centre/Complex). We paid conversion charges but we believe that money wasn’t used to uplift the market. Parking is a huge problem here.”

12.45 pm: Shops, salons, cafes at M block market in Greater Kailash 1 remained closed on Friday. Only fruit vendors and cigarette shops were open. One shop, Zoya by Titan is open with its shutter half down. “We are open today and tomorrow and received a company mail. But business is expected to be low since the public knows markets are closed for the next two days,” said a shop attendant. However, coffee chains like CCD and Starbucks were open and said they had paid the conversion charges.

Shops, salons, cafes at M block market in Greater Kailash 1 remained closed on Friday. (Express photo by Somya Lakhani)

12.30 pm: Most of the shops in Lajpat Nagar also remained closed following the bandh call by Confederation Of All India Traders (CAIT). Congress leader Ajay Maken also joins the protest.

Congress leader Ajay Maken joins the traders’ protest against sealing on Friday in New Delhi. (Source: ANI)

12.15 pm: Meanwhile, 4 AAP MLAs were booked for assaulting Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta and two others at the residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during a meeting on the sealing drive.

11.30 am: DDA member and BJP MLA Vijender Gupta said three proposals regarding amendments to Delhi Master Plan 2021 have been passed. “Three proposals about amendments to 2021 Master Plan of Delhi have been passed. Period of the proposal being put in the public domain has been reduced from 45 days to 3 days. The proposals will be approved in another DDA meeting at LG house after 3 days,” Gupta said.

The bustling Lajpat Nagar market wears a deserted look on Friday. (Source: ANI)

11.20 am: DDA member and AAP MLA Somnath Bharti said it was the BJP’s prerogative to fill loopholes in the Master Plan as it controlled the MCDs. “It’s BJP’s duty to fill loopholes in Master Plan as it is in power in Centre and MCD. Sealing could’ve been prevented if BJP did that. All legitimate demands of CM Kejriwal have been approved in the meeting. These demands will be put in public domain,” Bharti said.

11.05 am: Meanwhile, officials of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) held a meeting with LG Anil Baijal at his residence on Friday to discuss the ongoing crisis over the sealing drive.

11.00 am: The Aam Aadmi Party Delhi unit will hold a peaceful protest outside Delhi Raj Niwas on Friday at 11 am against BJP-sponsored sealing in various markets.

AAP Delhi Unit to hold a peaceful protest outside Delhi Raj Niwas today at 11 AM against BJP SPONSORED sealing in various markets. pic.twitter.com/QEmz9PZTAP

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 2, 2018

10.50 am: Most of the shops in Karol Bagh were closed following the bandh call by Confederation Of All India Traders (CAIT).

Most of the shops in Karol Bagh were closed following the bandh call by Confederation Of All India Traders. (Source: ANI)

10.15 am: Praveen Khandelwal of Confederation Of All India Traders said the ongoing sealing drive was very harmful to the economy. “Almost 2,500 markets will be closed. Protest marches against sealing would be taken out by businessmen in around 500 markets. The ongoing sealing is very harmful to our economy,” he said.

The traders’ body is carrying out its protest despite Urban Development Minister Hardeep Puri’s claims that the Delhi Master Plan would be amended. (Source: ANI)

10.00 am: Delhi bandh for 48 hours starts from today, almost 2,500 markets will be closed.

9.00 am: Apart from CP and Khan Market, markets in Chandni Chowk, Karol Bagh, Kamla Nagar, Khan Market, South Extension, Greater Kailash, Lajpat Nagar, Defence Colony, Green Park, Rajouri Garden and Tilak Nagar are likely to remain closed on Friday.