23 October,2009 08:56 AM IST | | Kaumudi Gurjar
20 shops located near Shivaji Nagar Godown counting centre made collective losses of Rs 2 lakh after they were told to shut due to security reasons
Around 20 shop owners near Shivajinagar Godown counting centre together incurred a loss of over
Rs 2 lakh yesterday. Shop owners say policemen on duty asked them to remain shut all day citing "security reasons" on counting day.
Firoz Khan, owner of F M Pan Shop and Stationary Store, rued the fact that even though his shop was 1,000 metres away from the counting centre, he had to forgo his business for the day. "I had stocked my shop with 30 cartons of mineral water anticipating good demand from party supporters. But as soon as I opened the store at 8 am, a policeman asked me to shut it and go home for the rest of the day," said Khan.
Ironically, all shops near the counting centre were allowed to remain open when the Lok Sabha counting was going on on April 30.
'Only barricades'
Several photocopy shops near the Shivaji Nagar Sessions Court had even put up additional snack tables believing that policemen and party workers would eat there. But they too made losses. "I made preparations for selling south Indian delicacies and I had invested almost Rs 3,000. But now everything has gone waste," said Satish Tikone, owner of Raj Xerox Centre.
Both Khan and Tikone have been conducting business on the same road for 20 years. They added, "This is the first time that police asked us to close the shops on counting day." In fact, Khan added, "I had even checked with the police before stocking up my shop and was told that shops could remain open."
Shree Ganesh Hotel near the court also made losses. The hotel's cashier said, "We lost Rs 5,000-6,000."
However, Inspector M S Sawant who was on duty at the counting centre said, "We did not ask store owners to shut shop. We only put barricades and closed the roads for traffic keeping in mind the security concern in the area."
