Chandigarh, December 19: Sector 22-D traders held a protest against the decision of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation to shift vendors to the market.
The traders closed their shops throughout the day against the decision. Later, the traders and area residents also held a candlelight march against the decision. Arvind Jain, president of the Market Welfare Association, 22-D, and Ravi Ranjan Verma, president of the Booth Markets Welfare Association, said allotting space in front of shops to vendors would create law and order problems. He said there were many jewellery shops in the market, which would have security problems. The traders stopped MC employees who reached the market to mark sites. Later, the police were called by the employees. Manjit Singh, Sardul Singh, Parveen Duggal, Subhash Narang and KL Chawla, all traders, said they would continue to protest till the MC changed its decision.
Charanjiv Singh, chairman of the Chandigarh Bepoar Mandal, and leaders of the Progressive Shopkeepers Association also supported the protest.
Arvind Jain said the public was angry as the MC had decided to go ahead with its vendor zone plan ignoring the suggestions and objections raised by residents and traders. Verma said members of the Traders Welfare Association had raised objections as the MC was trying to make Sector 22 the biggest vendor zone in the city.
