Most of the markets in Delhi, which sell agricultural products, remained open on Tuesday despite the Bharat Bandh call given by the farmers’ organisations.
Even at ‘Khari Baoli’, the largest market in North India for food grains, pulses, spices, etc., this bandh did not show any effect.
Most shops in other wholesale markets of Delhi opened on Tuesday as per schedule.
Apart from Khari Baoli in Old Delhi, all the big markets like Grain Market, Sadar Bazar, Chawri Bazaar, Chandni Chowk, Lajpat Rai Market and Bhagirath Palace located near Khari Baoli were also open.
Although Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had appealed to the people to join this bandh, the appeal had little effect here.
Lala Haricharan Aggarwal, who owns a grain and spices business in Khari Baoli, said: “There was no call for a market shutdown by the market association or the shopkeepers. No information or request to close the market was given by any organisation.”
Tejpal Arora, a businessman in Anaj Mandi, said: “We have not been contacted by any local representative or organisation to participate in the Bharat Bandh. It was also not told who are involved in this bandh. Hence, all the shopkeepers have opened their shops like other days.”
Significantly, these are the markets in Delhi that sell products derived from farmers, and farming.
In Khari Baoli, there is a wholesale and retail trade of cereals, pulses, spices, edible oil, milk products such as khoya, mawa, desi ghee, dry fruits, spices etc.
Every day, many trucks of food and spices are sent to different parts of the country. Despite the business related to agricultural products, businessmen in these markets have kept themselves completely aloof from Bharat Bandh.
At the same time, there was no effect of Bharat Bandh at Bhagirath Palace, the biggest market of medicines in the Capital.
This market with hundreds of shops remained fully open on Tuesday. During this time, business continued to be unrestrained like normal days.
Lajpat Rai Market, Asia’s largest electronic market, located near Red Fort also witnessed a similar scenario. There was no impact of the Bharat Bandh here either.
Besides, the main market of Chandni Chowk also conducted business as usual.
–IANS
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