Delhi shops to reopen on Sunday after 48-hour shutdown

New Delhi Feb 3 (IANS) Shops in the city will reopen on Sunday after a two-day shutdown headed by Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) as a protest against the ongoing sealing drive.

While on Friday the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) had approved proposed amendments to the city s Master Plan which are aimed to provide relief to traders hit by the sealing drive the traders continued the shutdown even after the DDA s decision.

On Saturday CAIT sent a 12-point traders charter to Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri urging him to take necessary steps to mitigate problems of traders due to the sealing drive.

Meanwhile the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) demanded immediate "de-sealing" of sealed shops.

AAP chief spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said: "The Bandh continued in spite of pressure from BJP to call off the strike after the DDA meeting. Traders believe that the DDA meeting had no visible impact on the ongoing sealing drive. Aam Aadmi Party again demands immediate de-sealing of shops in the capital."

The sealing drive was being carried out against business establishments using residential areas for commercial purposes without paying conversion charges.

--IANS
nkh/vd