Chandni Chowk shopkeepers Protest shook Delhi’s historic market as over 30 traders staged a silent march from Fountain Chowk to the Red Fort. Their action reflected frustration with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for ignoring issues like poor sanitation and illegal hawkers that continue to trouble the area.
Since 1990, the Delhi High Court has passed nearly 40 to 50 orders directing authorities to remove encroachments. Yet, shopkeepers argue nothing has changed. Last November, the court gave MCD and the police two weeks to act against hawkers. However, traders say enforcement remains missing. Sanjay Bhargava, president of the Chandni Chowk Sarv Vyapar Mandal, stressed that they have spent crores on legal battles but still face the same problems.
Sanitation remains another serious concern. Shopkeepers point out that public urination is widespread, making the market unpleasant for traders and visitors alike.
Traffic violations also add to the chaos. Despite a ban on motorized vehicles from 9 AM to 9 PM, cars and scooters still enter the lanes, worsening congestion and affecting businesses.
For many, the struggle has lasted decades. Ashok Kumar Jaiswal, a fruit seller for over 20 years, admitted feeling anxious about protests against hawkers. He explained that vendors often flee with their goods whenever officials arrive, simply to avoid losing their livelihood.
The protest also drew political reactions. Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor called the shopkeepers patriots and assured they would avoid protests during Independence Week. He credited BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal with improving cleanliness and reducing encroachments, but also blamed negligence by MCD, PWD, and police for ongoing troubles.
Officials from MCD, however, claimed they conduct regular drives to remove illegal hawkers and rickshaws. Yet traders remain doubtful, saying the ground reality contradicts official statements.
The continuing problems reflect the need for better management of Chandni Chowk. Encroachments, sanitation failures, and poor enforcement threaten the livelihood of genuine shopkeepers. The Chandni Chowk Shopkeepers Protest shows a community determined to keep pressing for its rights until genuine action is taken. Whether the MCD and police address these issues remains uncertain, but the shopkeepers’ resolve to fight on is unmistakable.
