Having lost its high-end outlets to MCD bulldozers, Delhi's fashion fraternity is uncertain of its future. And in desperation, some of the designers have even turned to god, perhaps, hoping for a miracle.
Even as the MCD continued with the demolition of MG 1 on Thursday, a group of designers tried to invoke the gods by conducting a havan at MG 2 -- the bulldozers' next target.
A desperate Suneet Varma, who has outlets at MG 1 and MG 2, said: "Tomorrow morning, I'll have no business. I don't have a store and I'm out on the road, literally."
"It took me 18 years to open just two retail outlets and it's gone like that. I've spent a lot of money and the livelihood of my 250 employees depends on this," Varma said.
Like others, he blamed the MCD for it. "MCD is targeting us because we are soft targets. There are so many other commercial buildings on the MG road... It's like an act of terrorism. I feel terrorised."
The designers said the demolitions would affect their business, especially with the India Fashion Week coming soon.
Rahul Khanna said the MCD's plea that it was acting on the court orders was not convincing. "The court has asked the MCD to target the big fish but we are not the big fish."
{{/usCountry}}Rahul Khanna said the MCD's plea that it was acting on the court orders was not convincing. "The court has asked the MCD to target the big fish but we are not the big fish."
{{/usCountry}}Manav Gangwani said there are very few options to open shop in Delhi. And wherever there is scope, there was no way to check whether a building was au thorised or not. "We don't have much knowledge of legal technicalities. You don't know which place is legal and which is not," he said.
"We don't know what to do," he said.