Over 900 markets shut in Delhi as traders observe bandh to protest against Pahalgam attack
New Delhi, Apr 25 (PTI): Several of Delhi's busiest commercial hubs, including Connaught Place, Sadar Bazar and Chandni Chowk, were bereft of their usual hubbub on Friday as over 900 markets observed a 'Delhi Bandh' in protest against the recent terror attack in Pahalgam.
Shops across key sectors such as textiles, spices, utensils, and bullion remained shut.
Sadar Bazar, normally buzzing with shoppers, remained silent, with even vegetable and fruit vendors not turning up. Gandhinagar, home to Asia's largest wholesale readymade garment market, was also completely shut, according to a statement by its market association.
According to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), more than 8 lakh shops across the capital participated in the bandh, leading to an estimated trade loss of around Rs 1,500 crore for the day.
The bandh was called by the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), which had earlier held a candle march in Connaught Place to condemn the attack that claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists.
"This is more than just a protest. It's a united stand against terrorism, we are observing this bandh in memory of those who lost their lives in Pahalgam," said CTI Chairperson Brijesh Goyal.
He also urged the government to cut commercial ties with Pakistan and boycott Pakistani products.
"The bandh is our way of demanding justice for the victims and standing together against terrorism," a statement from traders stated.
Connaught Place, one of Delhi's most coveted markets, known for its branded stores and restaurants, remained closed. So was Mukherjee Nagar, a major hub for coaching centres.
The usually vibrant streets of Chandni Chowk, Janpath, and Sarojini Nagar had no teenagers thronging them.
Thousands of traders took part in a march from Chandni Chowk to Red Fort, calling for urgent action.
In Chandni Chowk, trader associations displayed a poster featuring photos of the 26 victims captioned with brief descriptions. They offered floral tributes and lit candles in their memory.
Many protesters wore black ribbons and carried posters that read 'Delhi Bandh in protest against the massacre in Jammu and Kashmir.'
"The brutal killing of innocent people in Pahalgam has outraged the entire business community of Delhi. Over 8 lakh traders have closed their shops in protest. The attackers must face strict punishment," BJP leader Praveen Khandelwal, who took part in the protest, said.
Paramjeet Singh Pamma, Chairperson of the Federation of Sadar Bazar, echoed the call for justice.
"By shutting down our shops today, we are urging the Prime Minister to ensure that justice is delivered to the victims and their families," he said.
Tuesday's attack in Pahalgam has been described as the deadliest assault in Jammu and Kashmir since the Pulwama tragedy of 2019.
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Rishabh Pant's troubles continue as Punjab Kings push LSG towards exit door
Dharamsala, May 4 (PTI): Rishabh Pant lost the grip on his bat and the match simultaneously as Punjab Kings rode on heroics from the two 'Singhs' -- Prabhsimran and Arshdeep -- to literally push Lucknow Super Giants to the brink of elimination with a 37-run win in an IPL match here on Sunday.
It was Prabhsimran's 48-ball 91 that formed the cornerstone of Punjab Kings' unassailable 236 for 5 and any hopes of a remarkable chase was nipped in the bud by Arshdeep's (3/16 in 4 overs) now familiar Powerplay spell which summarily destroyed the opposition top-order.
This time, he got the three top run getters -- Mitchell Marsh (0), Aiden Markram (13) and the ever-dangerous Nicholas Pooran (6) -- to swing the match decisively in Punjab's favour. Ayush Badoni's (74 off 40 balls) effort was a good one albeit it came for a losing cause.
LSG were finally restricted to 199 for 7 in 20 overs and even if they win their last three games and get to 16 points from 14 games, their net run-rate can make things difficult for them.
Punjab Kings are now placed second with 15 points from 11 games and one more win could possibly clinch a place in top four for them.
But what is becoming an eyesore is LSG's Rs 27 crore worth skipper Pant's inexplicable approach which has fetched him a dismal 128 runs in 11 innings at a sub-100 strike-rate (99.22).
On the day, he scored 18 off 17 balls and that he is completely out of sync was evident in the manner he tried to throw the proverbial kitchen sink at an Azmatullah Omarzai delivery. There was no control in his shot as the bat took off on parabolic curve towards square leg and the ball went towards deep point.
Pant's misery was a testimony of LSG's wretched campaign that was lost at the auction table when the owner decided to go with a sub-standard bowling attack based on a half-fit talented pacer Mayank Yadav.
Mayank has already lost at least 10-15 yards of pace post rehabilitation under the watch of Nitin Patel at the National Cricket Academy.
On Sunday, he went for 60 runs off four overs with half a dozen of sixes struck off his bowling.
The pint-sized Prabhsimran packed a mean punch in his strokes as he blasted his way to a 48-ball 91 with the help of six fours and seven sixes.
The Punjab keeper-batter should have got his second IPL hundred but an ambitious switch hit off Digvesh Rathi saw him head back to the pavilion, nine runs short of what would have been a deserving milestone.
Towards the end, Shashank Singh scored 33 off 15 balls to take PBKS to what looked like an unassailable total. There were 16 sixes hit by Pujab Kings with 13 coming off pacers.
Prabhsimran was initially a passive partner as it was Australian Jos Inglis who launched the first attack with a hat-trick of sixes off Mayank Yadav, whose speed has decreased by at least 15 kmph post his intense rehab under Nitin Patel at the BCCI's erstwhile National Cricket Academy to recover from back injury.
However, once Inglis was dismissed, Prabhsimran, along with skipper Shreyas Iyer (45 off 25 balls), took control of the game. They were only helped by some atrocious fielding from Avesh Khan, who would probably go down as the worst fielder in the 18-year history of IPL.
Adding insult to injury, Prabhsimran took the tall MP fast bowler to the cleaners as he was pulled over mid-wicket for back-to-back maximums. Khan went for 57 in four overs and if around 15 runs due to his misfielding is added, he caused the maximum damage for his team.
The duo of Prabhsimran and Iyer added 78 runs in 7.5 overs before Rathi, LSG's best bowler on view, became the first spinner in the current season to account for Punjab Kings skipper's wicket.
But Prabhsimran continued like a man possessed and LSG bowlers were guilty of feeding to his strengths throughout the innings.
