Delhi Traders Seek UP-Like Law to Recover Losses from Protests
In Short
Upset over repeated protests in Central Delhi, particularly in Connaught Place and Jantar Mantar, traders and trade bodies are up in arms. The traders’ associations are meeting BJP MP Raghav Chadha to urge the government to come to their rescue.
Upset over repeated protests in Central Delhi, particularly in Connaught Place and Jantar Mantar, traders and trade bodies are up in arms. The traders’ associations are meeting BJP MP Raghav Chadha to urge the government to come to their rescue. They want the government to introduce a law along the lines of the one enacted by the Uttar Pradesh government, under which organisations responsible for financial losses would be required to compensate affected traders.
Trade bodies alleged that they had suffered losses amounting to over Rs 1,000 crore so far. They said continuous protests had created a sense of fear among small traders who travel from across the country to buy goods. This had resulted in business losses for both Delhi-based traders and those who come to the capital to purchase products.
They said Connaught Place, the areas around New Delhi Railway Station, Paharganj and Chandni Chowk witnessed brisk business during the festive season. Central Delhi also attracts a large number of foreign visitors every day, many of whom purchase Indian products showcasing the country’s culture and heritage.
Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson and MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said the CJP, which was formed to champion students’ causes, was now attempting to disrupt the economy. He said its intentions had become clear from the economic disruption it was allegedly causing by violating the law every day. This, he added, raised suspicions that the opposition wanted to create an economic crisis in the state and had a different goal from that of the CEC.
A Journey of Three Decades Time passes faster than we realise. What feels like a journey that began only yesterday has today grown into more than three decades of a meaningful and fulfilling life devoted to education, journalism, and the empowerment of young minds. My professional journey began with journalism training in New Delhi in 1979. I went on to work as an independent journalist, drawing on my fluency in both English and Telugu. Over the years, I have edited and worked on Telugu articles in both languages, an experience that strengthened my command of language and sharpened my understanding of society, people, and contemporary issues. Yet, my principal profession and enduring passion have always been teaching. My decision to become a teacher was not merely a career choice—it was a calling. Teaching offered me the rare privilege of inspiring young minds, guiding them through their formative years, and making a lasting difference in their lives. I found immense satisfaction in simplifying complex concepts, nurturing curiosity, encouraging independent thought, and building confidence among students. Every moment in the classroom—every question, every moment of discovery, and every spark of understanding—reminded me why I had chosen this path: to empower young people through knowledge, values, and essential life skills. My teaching career began at the grassroots level as a Montessori teacher and gradually progressed to the position of Vice Principal. I had the opportunity to work in reputed educational institutions, including Dilsukhnagar Public School in Hyderabad, where I shouldered both teaching and administrative responsibilities. Although I have always considered myself, at heart, a teacher, my administrative experience enabled me to understand and contribute to the education system from a much broader perspective. For my students, I have always tried to be an approachable and dependable presence—someone they could turn to not only for academic support, but also for guidance and emotional encouragement. At the same time, I developed a reputation as a firm disciplinarian who believed that integrity, fairness, responsibility, and discipline were fundamental to education. I was also consistently appreciated for maintaining clear communication with parents and staff and for ensuring that examinations and other academic processes were conducted with transparency, fairness, and efficiency. As my career progressed, however, I began to feel that academic education alone was not enough. This realization led me to work more closely with students following the SSC and CBSE curricula, while consciously bringing life-skills education into my teaching. I came to understand that education becomes truly meaningful when it prepares children not merely to pass examinations, but to face life. Teaching emotional resilience, self-reliance, social awareness, communication, decision-making, and other practical life skills often had a deeper and more lasting impact than academic achievement alone. I saw how these skills could help students navigate challenges with greater confidence, maturity, and responsibility. My academic background provided a strong foundation for this approach. My degree in Psychology from the University of Madras helped me develop a deeper understanding of young people's minds, their emotional needs, and the influence of their family and social environments. My M.A. in Telugu with First Class from Osmania University.
