NEW DELHI: Frequent protests in and around Connaught Place have hit businesses in the commercial hub, with some establishments recording zero sales on certain days, while a restaurant owner has approached the Delhi high court seeking compensation for losses allegedly suffered during the demonstrations.The developments come as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has called for a ‘Tiranga March’ at Central Park in Connaught Place at 5pm on Friday.National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) treasurer Manpreet Singh said the announcement of protests had discouraged people from visiting the area, even when there were no movement restrictions, news agency PTI reported.“People are afraid to come here. They do not want to get involved in a protest or find themselves in a difficult situation,” Singh said, urging protesters to hold demonstrations away from commercial areas.He said the impact was particularly severe during the festive season, when families typically visit Connaught Place for shopping, entertainment and dining.Singh added that restaurants were also suffering as their business depended on customers visiting shops and other recreational venues.“There is a difference between low sales and zero sales. On several days, sales have been zero,” he said, adding that businesses had also suffered during an earlier month-long protest at Jantar Mantar.Singh urged political parties and protesters to choose alternative venues, including designated protest sites, instead of commercial districts.He said businesses in and around Connaught Place employed lakhs of people and needed regular sales to meet operating costs and pay salaries, PTI reported.Meanwhile, a restaurant owner has approached the Delhi high court seeking compensation for business losses allegedly suffered due to the protests.The petitioner, Aayush Chopra, whose family has run Minar Restaurant in Connaught Place since July 2017, has also sought directions to prevent CJP from holding the proposed gathering at Central Park and to stop other unauthorised demonstrations in the market, news agency ANI reported.The petition was mentioned before a division bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Vasudev Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma, which directed that the matter be listed along with connected petitions.Chopra’s plea states that CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke called on people on October 14 to assemble at Central Park at 5pm on October 16.The restaurant is around 700metres from the proposed gathering site.The petitioner has sought an assessment of losses suffered by him and other affected traders during the October 10 agitation, along with compensation from those responsible.The plea claims that shops in Connaught Place remained closed that day despite permission for the gathering having been refused, ANI reported.According to the petition, the New Delhi Traders Association estimated losses in Connaught Place at Rs 150 crore to Rs 200 crore on October 10, while the Chamber of Trade and Industry estimated that business worth Rs 2,000 crore was affected across Delhi. These figures have been cited by the petitioner.The plea argues that Central Park is not a designated protest site and that the proposed gathering was announced only two days in advance.It also refers to a standing order regulating demonstrations in and around Central Vista and says Jantar Mantar was denotified as a designated protest site on October 11, with three alternative venues identified.The petitioner contends that the right to protest must be balanced against the rights of traders and other businesses to carry on their livelihoods.The plea also cites the Supreme Court’s observation that protests cannot take place anytime and anywhere and must be held at designated sites.Delhi Police has now served a notice to Abhijeet Dipke over the proposed protest at Central Park in Connaught Place on Friday.The notice directs Dipke to refrain from actions that could prejudice the rights of citizens, traders, commuters and others.(With agency inputs)
