BHOPAL: The protest by traders over alleged discrimination in opening of shops during the graded unlock in the state capital continued on the second consecutive day on Wednesday. On the first day of unlock, the traders had protested at Bairagarh and Old City for not being allowed to open their shops.
The Kapada Vyapari Sangh called on DME minister Vishwas Sarang, who is minister-in-charge of the district for Covid affairs on Wednesday to register their protest against discrimination in opening of shops during the graded unlock. DME minister Sarang requested them to wait for three to four days more for permission to open their shops.
The textile traders expressed their disappointment to the DME minister, stating that ëroti, kapda aur makaní were the basic needs of the people. The graded unlock had benefited 'roti' (grocery) and 'makan' (construction businesses), but 'kapda' shops had still not opened.
This is reason why the traders had protested at Bairgarh and the Old City on the first day of unlock on Tuesday, demanding justice for their business. After June 15, the monsoon was likely to arrive, so business would not pick up, Sangh president Kanhaiyalal Ishrani said.
Minister assured us
"We called on minister Vishwas Sarang, who requested us to wait for four or five days more. Our consignments have already been dispatched from Gujarat, but we havenít received them. Still, theyíre demanding money. How can we pay them when our shops havenít been opened? The entire wedding season has been non-productive for us. Even Eid passed, but our shops werenít opened. Three to four members of the staff work in our shopsóhow can we pay them, either? So, our entire business is ruined because of the lockdown. Now, those shops which were already open have been opened officially during the unlock. We told the minister that roti, kapda aur makan were important. Shops of roti and makan have been opened, but kapda shops are still closed, so itís not justice." -Kanhaiyalal Ishrani, president, Kapda Vyapari Sangh
"I was also part of the delegation that met minister Vishwas Sarang. Our stand is that all businesses should be opened uniformly so that people get all items with ease and without any rush at the shops. But, unfortunately, this hasnít happened. Weíve been asked to wait until June 7." -Satish Ganrade, president, New Market Tradersí Association
