Reuters AlertNet Lite - Delhi braces for further strike over shop closures

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Delhi braces for further strike over shop closures

09 Nov 2006 11:50:07 GMT
Source: Reuters

NEW DELHI, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Traders in the Indian capital called for a day-long strike on Friday, the second such shutdown in a week, to protest against the resumption of a drive by authorities to close thousands of illegal shops.

Municipal officers, backed by thousands of policemen, have been putting seals on shops since Wednesday after the Supreme Court ordered them to follow its directions and close some 40,000 commercial outlets operating illegally in residential areas.

"We will keep shop shutters down in Delhi tomorrow (Friday) to protest this oppression against us," said Ramesh Khanna, senior vice-president of the Confederation of All India Traders, which has been leading the anti-sealing protests.

"We will march up to the Delhi assembly covering our faces with black cloth to protest their unlawful detention," Khanna added.

Police and municipal officials said they had no plans to stop their drive because of Friday's threatened closures.

A three-day strike by traders last week shut markets as well as schools and sparked violence in the city of 14 million, where building and zoning laws are frequently violated with the help of corrupt officials.

In September, three people were killed in clashes between traders and policemen over the sealing of shops.

Scores of traders have been arrested or detained in the past two days for opposing the closure of shops.

Traders' groups have said the closure will ruin thousands of shopowners financially, many of whom have been running their establishments for decades. They also say hundred of thousands of employees will lose their jobs.

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Last updated:Thu Nov 9 11:52:40 2006