Pondy Bazaar traders abstain from protest

CHENNAI: While several traders affected by the crackdown on commercial establishments held a bandh in parts of T Nagar, the shops in Pondy Bazaar were conspicuous by abstaining from the protest and keeping their businesses open, raising suspicions of divisions within the associations. While members of the associations in Ranganathan Street and Usman Road, in a press meet, said that the reason for the non-participation of traders from Pondy Bazaar was that most establishments there were eateries and closing such shops would affect the working class adversely.But Pondy Bazaar shop owners told Express, the main reason for a majority decision to abstain from bandh was that unlike Ranganathan Street, “very few buildings” have been noted for violations in Pondy Bazaar. The feeling among majority of shop owners was that participation would attract “unwanted attention” and would put them in trouble, they said.“Though we completely support the sentiments of the traders there who are fighting for reopening of shops, we believe that participating in the protest without being the affected parties would attract unwanted attention,” said a head of one of the traders’ associations in Pondy Bazaar. But he said they have shown solidarity  by writing a letter.