Delhi's IT hub Nehru Place shuts down for 2 hrs

NEW DELHI, INDIA: ''Abhi to yeh angrai hai, aage aur ladai hai; Milke zor lagana hai, Nehru Place bachana hai'' (This is just an initiative; the real protest is yet to come. Together we save Nehru Place) was the chant commonly heard today in Delhi's Nehru Place.

For traders and businesses, it was not a usual day at Nehru Place. Close to 10,000 computers, media and software dealers assembled to protest against the government's apathy for Asia's largest IT hub. As a part of Nehru Place Bachao campaign, the businesses in the area remained closed for two hours on the first day of February.

The traders together with local associations were protesting against a series of issues, including unauthorized hawkers, basic amenities and dilapidated condition of commercial buildings. The traders are also planning to take out massive rally in March.

PCAIT secretary Saket Kapur said that there has been a trend of protests worldwide. ''Our campaign is inspired from anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare's peaceful protest. We'll collectively continue

our protest to save Nehru Place,'' he said.

Nearly 12,500 people engaged in 1,283 businesses and offices in Nehru Place, stayed away from work and participated in the peaceful protest.

As country's premier marketplace for IT products and solutions, Nehru Place which is being visited by more than 2 lakh potential buyers today tells a sordid state. ''People are reluctant to come here, since the area is plagued with filth and garbage as well as inadequate parking space,'' Kapur informed.

The irony is that the DDA parking people take more than the prescribed charge, which he says is sufficient to slander the image of Delhi's IT hub. A core committee comprising of 20 individuals from all the five associations have been formed for this campaign.

PCAIT said that they have given 30 days to authorities and sought action; otherwise they would continue with their peaceful protests. ''If our demands are not met in the given timeframe, then we would observe complete closure in the area and may take out a massive rally on March 2,'' added Kapur.

''All the associations have come together for this cause, and we'll continue our protest,'' said NIWA president Anil K Sehgal. ''The area is under the terrorist radar, while no adequate safety measures have been taken by the authorities'', say traders.

The woes don’t end here. Nehru Place is among the world’s top notorious markets! Sales of counterfeit software are thriving in the area. Many juveniles run such businesses in the corridors of Nehru Place, while the genuine dealers continue to loose revenue.

The Core Group - comprising Anil K. Sehgal, Mahinder Aggarwal, H.R. Sahni, Puneet Singhal, and R.K. Malhotra agreed to maintain pressure on the authorities in the coming weeks and months.