Click to play videoNew Delhi: The trader protest against the MCD sealings in Delhi turned ugly on Monday when police lathicharged a contingent of traders agitating outside Vidhan Sabha.
The contingent shouting anti-Government slogans was apprehended outside the Delhi Assembly.
The traders protesting the MCD sealings have called a 72-hour strike.
Major markets across the Capital are shut and there's heavy police deployment across the city.
However, normal life remain largely unaffected in the city as government educational institutions, public transport and essential services were exempted from the bandh, supported by all the major political parties.
It's not just the traders who are actively preparing for the complete bandh.
The Government is also trying to get its act together ahead of the resumption of the sealing drive on November 1, as per the court orders.
With both Congress and BJP supporting the agitation, the police are preparing to face the possibility of violence in some areas.
On September 20, four people lost their lives at Seelampur when a strike called by traders protesting sealing spiralled out of control.
Citing this incident, the Government is pulling out all stops to stall the sealing drive.
On Saturday, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi met up with some traders, who demanded a Constitutional amendment to legalise business setups established before December 31, 2005.
General Secretary All India Traders Union, Praveen Khandelwal, said, "We have complete faith that injustice will not be done to the 60-70 lakh people affected by the sealings."
On the same day, a crucial meet was held by the Group of Ministers, where it was decided that the Delhi Master Plan 2021 will be finalised by January 2007.
It was also decided that the Centre will approach the Supreme Court on this issue once again.
Earlier, the MCD had approached the Supreme Court Monitoring Committee and had pointed out how the situation may get out of hand if the sealing drive is resumed.
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit said, "We are concerned about the 40,000 traders who filed affidavits and we are looking for a way out."
On Monday, the Delhi government is expected to move the apex court in a bid to postpone the sealing of nearly 44,000 business establishments.
There are also plans to move a resolution in the Assembly to defer sealings till January 31, 2007.
With traders assuring a complete bandh, Delhiites can expect most retail markets to remain shut and while chemist shops are also supposed to join in, transport services are unlikely to be affected.
Security tightened
Delhi Police has deployed extra forces across the city to ensure peaceful demonstrations.
The Traders' Association will also deploy teams to monitor the strike, being supported by nearly 500 market associations.
(With inputs from Urvashi Sibal, Marya Shakil and Divya Iyer)
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