NEW DELHI: Merchants associations, including those not linked to political parties directly or indirectly, appear to disagree in supporting or opposing the Bharat bandh convened by farmers protesting against the three new agricultural laws framed by the Center.
Although the Delhi chapter of the Federation of All India Vyapar Mandal (FAIVM) has opposed the bandh, it has demanded an immediate solution to the complaints raised by farmers. However, many merchants have decided to keep their stores closed, either in support of the bandh or as a precautionary measure.
Devendra Jain, general secretary of FAIVM Delhi chapter, said: “Ludhiana’s raw materials for hosiery work are not arriving, which has also affected demand. This is the peak season for woolen clothing and the uproar has seriously affected our business. ”
Adil Khan, chairman of the Azadpur Agricultural Products Marketing Committee, said that the majority of merchants in the mandi would support the strike. “Apart from the merchants of Azadpur, the businessmen of other mandi have also decided not to engage in any trade because of the bandh. The merchants have placed banners and posters on all the doors of the mandi in support of the strike. It is a historic decision. If farmers don’t survive, neither will trade in agricultural markets, ”he added.
However, Rajkumar Bhatia of the Azadpur Chamber of Fruit and Vegetable Traders said he and many others would keep their stores open on Tuesday. “There has not been a unanimous decision to support the bandh and keep the stores closed,” he added. Another group of traders sent messages to journalists saying that the trade would continue in the mandi.
Tuesday’s bandh is likely to affect the supply of fruits, vegetables, food grains and other staples that depend on interstate transportation. The ongoing turmoil has already affected the supply of raw materials and goods, especially hosiery.
While the supply from Uttar Pradesh has been severely affected, products from the Haryana side have managed to reach the markets. On Monday, 45,000 bags of onions and more than 50 trucks loaded with potatoes arrived in Azadpur. The supply in other mandis was also largely normal.
“More than 20% of our business has been affected since the uproar started. Fruits from Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and other parts of the country reach different mandis. Due to the road blockade, the supply has been affected. Even the demand from neighboring cities has decreased, ”said a trader.
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