The continuous protests and barricades in Delhi are affecting the traders of Khan Market and Connaught Place. Traders say that due to the demonstration, customers are avoiding coming to the markets, due to which the earnings of shopkeepers are decreasing. Khan Market Association has claimed that the market is incurring a loss of around Rs 50 crore every day. The traders have written a letter to the Prime Minister regarding their problems and have also demanded that their views be heard in the Supreme Court.
According to Khan Market Association, due to continuous demonstrations, customers are afraid to come to the market. Due to this, the business of the shops is being affected and the livelihood of the traders is in danger. The association says that the daily rent of a shop here is around Rs 3 lakh. In such a situation, when customers are not coming, it is becoming difficult for the shopkeepers to bear the rent and other expenses. The traders are demanding that their views should also be heard in the Supreme Court, because the traders are suffering the most financial loss due to the protests.
Khan Market Traders Association wrote a letter to PM Modi
Impact on business in Connaught Place also
According to Atul Bhargava, President of New Delhi Traders Association, the business of Connaught Place has been affected due to continuous protests and restrictions for the last 5 to 7 days. He told that during the first CJP demonstration, the business was reduced to only 10 percent of the normal level. Traders were still trying to recover from the loss when the performance of INDIA block started. Now shopkeepers are also worried about the upcoming protests. He says that traders in Connaught Place and surrounding markets have suffered huge losses in the last two months. October, November and December are very important months for business. In view of the festive season, shopkeepers have already purchased and stocked the goods, but customers are not arriving.
About 2000 shops in Connaught Place
Let us tell you that there are around 2000 shops in the entire Connaught Place, out of which 1300 to 1400 shops are in the Inner Circle, Middle Circle and Outer Circle of Connaught Place. There are also offices and cafes here. Apart from that, Central Park will remain closed on 16th and 17th. Along with this, there is Palika Market, where there are around 300 underground shops and this route connects to Shankar Market, where there are around 200 shops. This is continuously affecting all the shopkeepers. As much as they are worried about 16-17th, they are equally worried about 25 percent more business coming to a standstill because people are afraid and that is why people are not coming.
Demand to set aside a separate place for the demonstration
The traders have sent a memorandum to the concerned officials including the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Delhi Police Commissioner and Lieutenant Governor. Their demand is that demonstrations and barricades in commercial areas like Connaught Place should not affect business, movement of people and emergency services. Traders say that designated places should be used for demonstrations, so that a balance is maintained between the right to protest and business.
Also read- Delhi traders will not stop their business due to protest, wrote a letter to the Police Commissioner asking for security.
SK Sharma is a content writer who writes on news, entertainment, and lifestyle topics. She has over four years of experience and is known for conveying information in simple and clear language.
