JAIPUR: With politics taking centrestage, city traders have decided to shut markets down on September 11 after talks with UDH minister Shanti Dhariwal over implementing trade licenses turned inconclusive on Thursday.
While Jaipur Municipal Corporation-Greater (JMC-G) has already started implementing the system and served notices to businesses, JMC-Heritage has decided not to go ahead with it. Members of the traders' association, who met Dhariwal, were told that the state government had no role to play in it. But he assured them that the businesses would not be shut down for not paying the licence fees.
However, traders have refused to accept this assurance and decided to shut down markets on Saturday in protest.
Meanwhile, at a press conference on Thursday, JMC-H mayor Munesh Gurjar stated that they would not implement the licensing system now.
“We just want to convey our message to traders that trade licenses will not be implemented right now. I request them to go back from their decision to shut down markets as they have already suffered huge losses in the pandemic. If in future we want to implement it, we will consult with them in advance,” Gurjar said.
MLAs from JMC-H area have also given their support to this decision. Speaking on their behalf, MLAs of the heritage area conducted another press conference at the residence of Pratap Singh Khachariyawas and questioned how JMC-G mayor Sheel Dhabai could serve notices to businesses without taking the state government into confidence.
They alleged that the licensing system was against the interest of small traders who were overcoming losses suffered during the pandemic.
The traders’ association said that they would continue with protests until they are given a written confirmation on scrapping the decision. Subhash Goyal, president of Jaipur Vyapar Mahasangh, alleged that the government was giving false assurances. "Until we get it in writing, traders will not rest," he said.
Dr Vijay Kapoor, secretary, Private Hospital And Nursing Homes Society, said, “The government has not taken any decision to withdraw the proposed trade licensing order. The UDH minister didn’t give any clear indication at the meeting. He has sought time to study the matter. Therefore, our decision to hold a strike on Saturday stands.”
