Wednesday, September 20 2006 14:29 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: All wholesale and retail markets in the capital were closed today (Sept 20, 2006) as traders in the city observed a strike against the ongoing sealing drive in the capital.

Around 500 different trade bodies participated in the strike called by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT). "Most of the markets in south, west and north Delhi and in the old quarters will remain closed for the day," said Praveen Khandelwal, secretary general of CAIT. However, essential services, like food and medicine shops, were kept out of the strike and remained open. "We don't want to create unnecessary problems for people because they too have been suffering because of the sealing drive in the capital," said Khandelwal.

Civic authorities have sealed over 1,600 commercial units in the past two weeks of the drive that started Sep 1 following a Supreme Court directive.

There were large-scale demonstrations and roadblocks Tuesday as over 100 protest marches were held in different parts of the capital.

Around 190 properties were sealed during the day. Parts of west Delhi, Old Delhi and markets in south Delhi were the worst hit. Khandelwal said that though shopkeepers have been urged to observe a peaceful strike, traders might hold protests and block roads in a few areas. "We are also upset because the government has not done enough to stop these sealing drives and no ministers or representatives of political parties have approached us officially," said Khandelwal.

But he added that the confederation was informally in touch with some political leaders. "We have not been given any assurances though," he said. Khandelwal said they were also preparing for the Supreme Court hearing Sep 25 to present their case before the bench. "We are confident that the court would give us a patient hearing and would take a decision in our favour," he said. Over 40,000 trading units, which earlier submitted affidavits in the Supreme Court saying they would shift their shops, would also be sealed. Delhi traders got a reprieve Friday as authorities allowed businesses to function in residential premises on nearly 2,200 roads.