Friday, September 22 2006 12:35 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: A day after their bandh to protest the sealing drive turned violent, Delhi traders yesterday (Sept 21,2006) demanded an immediate halt to the ongoing sealing drive against unauthorised commercial establishments.

The demand was made when they met Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil on the sealing issue here.

"We presented a five-point charter of demands to the Government, including regularisation of all commercial establishments set up before December 31, 2005 and legalisation of 1,400 unauthorised colonies," Confederation of All India Traders Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal told reporters here after the hour-long meeting.

The other demands include scrapping of categorisation of colonies while allowing trading activities and rehabilitation package for the displaced traders.

Asked about the response of the government, he said the traders were assured that the demands will be taken up by the Group of Ministers set up by the Government.

But he warned that the traders protest will continue till their demands are met.

On the widespread violence witnessed during the traders' bandh in which four persons were killed, Khandelwal said, "We have nothing to do with yesterday's violence. It is all because of some anti-social elements."

Lt Governor B L Joshi, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Minister of State for Urban Development Ajay Maken, Delhi Chief Secretary R Narayana Swami and MCD Commissioner A K Nigam were present at the meeting.