New Delhi: In a country of trades and crafts, the Capital cannot just be about politics, for centuries Delhi has been the country's biggest trading centre it's in the city's blood, the traders are the people running shops started by their forefathers very much like Pramod J Mehra who is a fourth generation jeweller.
“This is my great grandfather Bhagwan Dass who started this shop, it was taken over by my grandfather Daulatram, then my mother and father and then I am the fourth generation,” says Jeweller, BhagwanDass and Sons, Pramod J Mehra.
Like Mehra, more than 65 per cent of Delhi’s traders still work in the narrow lanes of old Delhi, dealing in almost everything- dry fruits, jewellery, books.
Trading centres like Kinari bazaar and Tilak bazaar in Chandni Chowk have in fact become the largest markets for wedding accessories and chemicals in Asia but others have moved out. Businessmen in Cannaught place and Greater Kailash have switched to international brands to attract the new middle class.
Delhi's traders have been shaping the politics of the city for years now. In the seventies they actually used to say that Delhi was a city for the traders of the traders and by the traders and even today no politician can do without their support
And who would understand the value of traders better than Praveen Khandelwal, the president of Delhi traders' association fielded as a candidate by the BJP from Chandni Chowk.
“Delhi has 5 lakh traders. The reason why they have a large voting population is because they have their employees, their family members and their clients whom they can influence. And when you put it all together it goes up to at least 30 lakh votes,” says Praveen Khandelwal.
But unfortunately most in this powerful group feel that their problems have only increased over the years they live in perpetual fear following blasts that have taken place in areas like Sarojini nagar and Gaffar market.
Issues like sealing and demolition have been problems for a long time now
During elections in Delhi, you cannot ignore traders. The congress has been in power in the capital for the last ten years and now its time for these traders to judge its performance and shape the political future of the city once again.
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