look news india
There has been deep dissatisfaction among the business community amid the ongoing protests and security restrictions in the markets of the capital Delhi. In view of the serious impact of the festive season and upcoming weddings on business, major business organizations of Delhi have written a formal letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Traders have demanded immediate intervention of the Central government and postpone or ban all types of political demonstrations, rallies and road jams in the national capital till January 31, 2027. Bharatiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal (BUVM) and other local market associations have written letters not only to Prime Minister Modi, but also to Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Aam Aadmi Party National Convener Arvind Kejriwal, requesting them to postpone the protest during this period in the larger public interest and for the sake of the economy.
Shopkeepers in Delhi’s major retail and wholesale markets like Connaught Place (CP), Palika Bazaar, Janpath, Lajpat Nagar, Shankar Market and Chandni Chowk say that business has come to a complete standstill due to the protests. According to the associations, due to security cordon, barricades and closure of roads, the number of customers in the markets has become negligible, due to which the markets of Delhi alone are facing direct business loss of up to Rs 100 crore daily. Traders claimed that the period from October to January is the most important time of the year for the retail sector, when about 40 to 50 percent of the year’s sales occur during the seasons of Navratri, Dhanteras, Diwali and weddings. Traders have already borrowed and invested new stock worth crores of rupees, but this capital is stuck due to lack of customers.
In the letter sent to the Prime Minister, the traders have underlined that the livelihood of Delhi’s markets does not depend only on the local residents, but lakhs of buyers from NCR cities like Noida, Greater Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad and Ghaziabad visit Delhi every day. When traffic diversions are implemented on major routes or gates of nearby metro stations are closed due to protests and police security, NCR customers start avoiding coming to Delhi altogether. Additionally, there is severe disruption in goods movement and delivery logistics, severely impacting the wholesale supply chain.
Business organizations have clarified that their letter or demand is not against anyone’s democratic and constitutional rights. Traders say that they respect the right to protest, but this protest should not hold the livelihood of common citizens, shopkeepers, employees and daily wage laborers hostage. It has been said in the letter that despite the huge decline in business, shopkeepers have to pay huge rent, electricity bills, employees’ salaries and bank loan EMIs. If the markets are not kept free from political tension and demonstrations by January 31, 2027, small shopkeepers and laborers will be on the verge of starvation.
The market representatives have also expressed their concerns before the Delhi High Court and have demanded from the government to identify special alternative sites for these repeated protests so that the commercial hub is not disrupted. Also, some associations have also appealed for a relief package or compensation to cover the financial losses worth crores caused by the uncertainty and unrest. Traders have expressed hope that the Central Government and Delhi Police Administration, understanding the sensitivity of the festive season, will take strict steps for the uninterrupted operation of the markets.