Major markets to remain shut today over FDI in retail

If you are planning to shop for summer clothes or other items at some of Delhi’s popular markets on Thursday, defer your plans for a day. HT reports.

If you are planning to shop for summer clothes or other items at some of Delhi’s popular markets on Thursday, defer your plans for a day.

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A large number of Delhi markets — both retail and wholesale — will remain closed.

Protesting the Delhi government’s decision to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail, market associations and political parties have joined and organised a rally against FDI at Ramlila Maidan on Thursday.

“The entire trader community is with us in our fight against the government’s decision to allow FDI in retail. All markets of Delhi, be it wholesale or retail markets, will remain closed,” said Praveen Khandelwal, general secretary of Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), the apex body of the trading community.

The markets likely to remain closed include Connaught Place, Karol Bagh, Chawri Bazar, Chandni Chowk, Khari Baoli, Naya Bazar, Sadar Bazar, Kamla Nagar, Rajouri Garden, Tilak Nagar, Lajpat Nagar, South Extension, Khan Market, Greater Kailash, Laxmi Nagar, Darya Ganj and Shradhanand Marg.

“It will be a warning from traders to the government that any attempt to bring FDI in retail will be strongly opposed,” Khandelwal said. “The government should immediately withdraw the FDI notification.”

The market association of Sadar Bazar, however, said they will keep shops open. “We are also against the FDI. But we don’t want to inconvenience the traders as well as the people by keeping the shops shut,” Paramjit Singh Pamma, vice-chairman, Federation of Sadar Bazar Traders Association, said.