Traders, hoteliers protest on Laxmi road against lockdown
For the second day in a row, shop owners, held protests against the lockdown in Pune on Laxmi road.
Several shopowners from the area as well as from other areas joined in the protest urging government to allow them to open shops. More than fifty different traders association joined this mega protest held against the lockdown.
A letter stating some demands was written to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray on April 5, 2021.
The federation of retailers association Pune held a joint protest against the lockdown.
Nilesh Bhagwat, secretary, Used Car Dealers Association Pune said, “Almost all businesses have suffered heavy losses in the last one year. With such lockdowns all of us are getting demotivated. Our demand is that either the government should allow us to work completely or keep everything shut for atleast 21 days. This half baked job is leading us nowhere. A decision by the parent body of all retailers association shall be taken today afternoon.”
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Sandeep Narang, of United Hospitality Association said, “We too supported the protest as not a single business has been running due to such unjustified lockdown. We want all our demands to be accepted.”
Fatehchand Ranka said, “We protest against the curfew imposed by the government.” Under what circumstances are we going to open our shops tomorrow? The government has done injustice to traders and millions of workers are starving. Government has allowed mandai and other businesses to remain open then why not shops ?”
Several restaurants in Pune also stood outside their premises holding placards urging government to allow them to open.
Federation of Trade Association of Pune held protest against lockdown on Laxmi road which received tremendous response from the traders from different parts of the city.
The traders association had written a letter on April 7, 2021 to the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, Pune Collector, Pune Municipal Corporation Commissioner, Mayor Murlidhar Mohol, Divisional Commissioner, Amitabh Gupta and many authorities urging them to roll back their decision on keeping the shops shut.
The traders in their stated their demands in the letter to allow shops to remain open.
Some of their concerns :
More than 40,000 employees are a part of the Pune Retailers Association. More than 3 lakh members are there in Pune. This lockdown has affected more than 20 lakh people drastically. Their businesses have dropped to 40 percent. In the few months the business was increasing and suddenly this lockdown has compelled them to sit at home without any work and money.
Government has asked the shops to remain closed but online deliveries are allowed which has brought down our business drastically.
This is the just the beginning of the year when shopkeepers are without any business. There are so many festivals which garners more business to the shopkeepers to which they will now miss. Even in today’s century, there is joint family tradition where only one person earns and the rest are dependent on him.
The traders are also against the lockdown timings. They informed,why are shops closed so early.
The shopkeepers also assured that like before, even now the shops are adhering to all the Covid19 health protocols. Also they are going a step ahead by vaccinating their employees.
