Shops Demolished In Late-Night Drive In Sarojini Nagar, Shopkeepers Say No Notice Given

Mini Market Association President Ashok Randhawa said that NDMC carried out demolition in the middle of the night and that several big and small legal shops were damaged during the action. 

The New Delhi Municipal Corporation carried out a late-night demolition drive in Delhi’s Sarojini Nagar Market on Saturday, affecting around 500 shops. The market president and shopkeepers have alleged that the legal stores were also damaged in the drive and that the action was carried out without any prior notice.

Mini Market Association President Ashok Randhawa said that NDMC carried out demolition in the middle of the night and that several big and small shops and even roofs were damaged during the action. 

"It’s past 12:30 at night, and NDMC has been carrying out demolition for the last half hour. They have damaged everything big shops, mini markets, even the roofs have been broken down. What kind of action is this happening in the middle of the night?" he asked.

He raised questions on the timings of the drive and claimed that instead of removing the unauthorised shops, NDMC removed the legal shops in the market.

"When we raised the matter before the court, we got a stay and instead of removing the unauthorised shopkeepers, the ones who have the stay and are authorised to set up shops in the market were removed. We stand together and if needed we will shut down the market tomorrow," Randhawa added. Click here to watch the video of the demolition drive being carried out at the Sarojini Nagar market.

Meanwhile, Market President Ashok Kalra requested Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's intervention in the matter, demanding action against those involved in carrying out the demolition in the market.

"The action taken by the NDMC inside the market has caused almost complete destruction throughout the market, which is unprecedented in its history. It is a sad incident how they carried out this operation without any prior notice," he said.