Sector 17 traders to start stir next week

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Traders hold a meeting over the issue of vendors in Sector 17, Chandigarh,

Chandigarh: Traders in Sector 17 have decided to start an agitation next week for implementation of the UT decision to make the sector a no-vending zone.

The decision to start a peaceful protest was taken during a meeting of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), Sector 17, here today. Over 150 traders attended the meeting.

Neeraj Bajaj, president of the JAC, said they would carry out the agitation in a phased manner. The details of the agitation would be announced on Monday. The protest would continue till Sector 17 becomes a vendor-free zone, he added.

Jagdish Pal Kalra, Subhash Kataria, Arun Talwar, HS Gujral, Rajinder Minocha, Kamaljeet Singh Panchi and LC Arora were among those present in the meeting.

Kalra said during the initial stage of the protest, they would observe black out from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm every day, followed by a candlelight march in Sector 17. Later, the agitation would be taken to other markets of the city.

The traders said they were forced to adopt the protest way to protect the Sector 17 market from further damage as it had already lost its beauty and business due to vendors who have swarmed the heart of the city.