Not being allowed to reopen stalls shut ahead of Navratri, say fish sellers of C.R. Park

Fish sellers in Govindpuri unable to reopen stalls ahead of Navratri, resorting to delivering fish to customers' doorsteps.

Several fish sellers in Govindpuri, a couple of kilometres from C.R. Park, on Wednesday said they have not been allowed to reopen their stalls shut by the police ahead of Navratri.

Bhanu, a fish seller at the 35-year-old market, said he has not earned anything since his stall was shut down on March 28. “Pavements on both sides of the road leading to the Govindpuri market are occupied by those who sell vegetables, clothes and miscellaneous products, but only the fish sellers have been targeted,” he said.

Uttam Das, another fish seller, said the police asked 37 of them with stalls on the pavements to stop selling during the nine days of Navratri. “This is the first time in 35 years that such prohibitions were enforced in the market,” he said. When they returned to their old spots on April 8, they were informed that if they set up stalls, their produce would be confiscated, he added. On Tuesday afternoon, the fish sellers alleged that Public Works Department (PWD) officials put road blockers around the pavement and warned them that strict action would be taken against those who resumed their business.

The Delhi police and the PWD did not respond to The Hindu’s request for comments.

Now, fearing financial loss, the fish sellers have resorted to delivering fish to the doorsteps of customers who are placing orders via calls. “People are coming to the fish market and asking around for numbers of sellers who can deliver. While some have started doing that, most have not been able to earn a penny since our shops were asked to be closed, especially the labourers who used to work in each shop,” said Mr. Das.

BJP MLA Karnail Singh had said in an Assembly session that selling of meat in public spaces during Navratri “hurts sentiments”. Following this, PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh had said that the Department will “remove all meat and fish sellers occupying public spaces”.