Shops in Delhi, Gurgaon closed to support Anna Hazare

NEW DELHI: Shops in parts of Delhi and Gurgaon downed shutters on Thursday to support Anna Hazare's movement against corruption even though it meant incurring losses in a not-so-booming business environment. The bustling malls of Gurgaon wore a deserted look.

The bandh to close malls and shops was called by the New Delhi Traders Association. Shops in Connaught Place, Janpath and Palika Bazaar were closed on Thursday, Atul Bhargava, president of New Delhi Traders Association said. Another traders' association Federation of Traders Association of Delhi estimated the loss to be more than Rs 500 crore as a result of bandh in Delhi and NCR.

"We are supporting a good cause and this loss is nothing in front of it. We feel the government should support it and discrepancies should be resolved with mutual consent," Ajay Arora, president, Federation of Traders Association of Delhi, said. Said Kabir Lumba, MD at Lifestyle Stores, Gurgaon: "We have lost a day's sale - but the Lifestyle store at DT City Centre and Home Centre in Gurgaon, are the only ones closed today."

Lumba said despite the loss of sale, the Lifestyle chain which retails apparel, toys and accessories, would support the anti-corruption cause even if it had to down shutters elsewhere.

"We work on tight margins ad shutting down for a day obviously impacts sale, but we will support the anti-corruption cause."