Delhi sealing drive: Shops to reopen after 48-hour trade bandh, AAP demands immediate de-sealing of shops

New Delhi: 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. [caption id=“attachment_4332299” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Traders raise anti-government slogans during the 48-hour bandh against MCD’s ongoing sealing, at Chandni Chowk area of New Delhi. PTI[/caption] 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.