SUDDEN ACTION HITS SHOPPERS, BUSINESSES

NEW DELHI: The sealing drive at Defence Colony has dampened the festive spirit of shoppers who thronged the south Delhi market on Friday.

Shopkeepers said that the Defence Colony market usually attracts a large number of shoppers at this time of the year. The weeks leading up to New Year provide a good opportunity for shopkeepers and restaurateurs to make quick profit.

However, the sealing drive on Friday, dampened the hopes of several employees working in many such establishments. Some were sent home mid day, while others were told that they would not be paid for the work hours lost.

“Christmas and New Year are occasions to do brisk business. The whole market had geared up for it. And then suddenly, everything turned out to be for nothing. After the sealing, many employees have been relieved from their work. Who will pay them when the establishments have been sealed?” said Jagdish Gupta, who owns a four-storey commercial building in the market.

PK Nair, who manages a Chinese restaurant in Defence Colony market, said confusion prevailed throughout Friday. He said he was forced to look on helplessly as officials sealed the first floor of his outlet. He says there were at least 25 employees working under him in the outlet. After the sealing, he had to tell 10 of his staff to go home.

“I had no other choice but to deduct salary of some of them, and ask them to go home,” said Nair.

Workers of most of the popular cafes in the market said that they are uncertain about when these establishments would be de-sealed.

“These are private establishments who won’t keep us when there is no work,” said a worker of a popular pub.