Designate protest sites in Delhi’s outskirts, traders’ body urges LG

CNN Central News & Networks / ITDC India ePress / ITDC News /Agencies/ Delhi: New Delhi: The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has written to Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu over the impact of frequent protests, demonstrations and political rallies in Delhi on business activity. The organisation has demanded that designated places in the outskirts of Delhi be identified and officially notified for protests, public meetings and political programmes in the capital. CAIT said the right to protest democratically is important, but trade and normal public life should not be disrupted because of it.

In a letter written on November 2, CAIT national president B.C. Bhartia said continuous demonstrations, marches and political activities in different parts of Delhi over the past month have affected access to markets. Traders, customers and business visitors coming from other states have faced difficulties due to traffic diversions, road closures and security restrictions.

According to the organisation, Delhi sees business worth about Rs 2,200 crore every day. It claimed that business activities were affected for nearly 14 days in the past month. CAIT said the impact is felt not only by wholesale and retail trade, but also by small shopkeepers, street vendors, daily-wage workers, transport operators and delivery workers.

CAIT has urged the Lieutenant Governor to consider five key suggestions. These include fixing protest sites in outer areas, maintaining access to markets and commercial centres, creating a uniform system for peaceful demonstrations, taking care of the livelihoods of small traders, and ensuring better coordination among Delhi Police, traffic police and the municipal corporation.

The organisation clarified that its demand is not aimed at restricting the democratic right to peaceful protest, but at creating a balance between protest activity and business operations.

Hashtags: #DelhiState #Delhi #CAIT #ProtestSites #DelhiOutskirts #Traders #Demonstrations #PoliticalRallies #BusinessDisruption #DesignatedProtestSitesIn