All the major wholesale and retail markets of Delhi remained closed on Saturday to prevent community transmission of coronavirus. The three-day trade bandh announced by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on Friday, saw a huge response as nearly 15 lakh business establishments in Delhi remained closed on Saturday following the call of traders’ body.
The major markets including Connaught Place will be closed till Monday keeping in view of rapidly growing numbers of Corona patients.
Many wholesale markets such as Chandni Chowk, Bhagirath Place, Lajpat Rai Market, Khari Baoli, Kashmiri Gate, Sadar Bazar, Chawri Bazaar, Nai Sadak, Ajmeri Gate , Shraddhanand Marg and the retail markets of Delhi, mainly Karol Bagh, Kamla Nagar, Model Town, Azadpur, South Extension, Greater Kailash, Rohini, Shalimar Bagh, Pitampura, Rajouri Garden, Uttam Nagar, Tilak Nagar, Janakpuri, Patel Nagar, Kalkaji, Green Park, Khan Market, Tuglakabad, Vikas Marg, Preet Vihar, Laxmi Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Krishna Nagar, Shahdara, Loni Road, Narela, Bawana, Azadpur, etc remained completely closed.
However, medicine, dairy, food grains and grocery stores in colonies have been kept free from the shutdown so that common people can easily get their daily necessities.
The national resident of CAIT BC Bhartia and Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said that the CAIT has strongly support the Prime Minister's call of Janata curfew and about 7 crore traders across Country will close their business and about 40 crore of their employees will also stay in their homes and shall join the public curfew. More than 40 trade associations of the country will join the Janata curfew, he said.
“CAIT has sent an advisory to traders across the country advising them that in event of closure of shops because of corona virus, no employee should be devoid of his salary and no employee should be retrenched,” they said, adding that there is plenty of goods available in the supply chain of traders across the country and people should not make any kind of panic buying as this may deprive other citizens for procuring goods.
He further said that at least 15 lakh traders of Delhi will close their business to mark their participation in Janta Curfew.