Asserting that the right to protest cannot become a right to paralyse the capital, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has written to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu, urging him to designate protest sites on the outskirts of the city.
The traders’ body emphasised that while peaceful assembly is an integral part of democracy, it should not infringe upon the livelihoods and constitutional rights of citizens and commercial workers.
In its letter, CAIT requested the LG to officially notify suitable locations outside major commercial areas, keeping in view accessibility, public convenience, and law-and-order requirements.
The national capital generates an average daily trade of approximately Rs 2,200 crore, but recurring demonstrations have disrupted normal business activities for nearly 14 days over the past month. Recent agitations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in central hubs like Jantar Mantar, Connaught Place, and Parliament Street have severely impacted footfall in major markets including Khan Market, Janpath, and Sadar Bazaar.
CAIT highlighted that repeated disruptions during the lucrative festive season cause unrecoverable financial losses to traders, street vendors, and shopkeepers. Seeking a balanced institutional mechanism, the association called for a coordinated framework involving police and municipal authorities to ensure demonstrations occur without bringing Delhi’s economy to a standstill.
