Blasts fail to dampen festive spirit in Delhi

[Guest guest]

Blasts fail to dampen festive spirit in Delhi

Monday October 31 2005 00:00 IST

PTI

 

NEW DELHI: The three serial blasts in Delhi on Saturday failed to

dampen the Diwali and Id festive spirit in the capital, with

Delhiites coming out in large numbers for their last minute shopping

in markets decked up for the occasion across the city.

 

Unfazed by the terrorist attack, all major markets of the capital

remained open on Sunday as usual. Shopkeepers in Sarojini Nagar and

Paharganj markets, the sites of two of the three blasts, also opened

their establishments amidst an uneasy calm, sending a clear message

that they could not be cowed down by the terror acts.

 

On the occasion of `Dhanteras' that precedes the festival of lights,

the usual crowd of Diwali shoppers could be seen at some of the

major markets in Delhi like Lajpat Nagar, Greater Kailash, South

Extension, Dilli Haat, Karol Bagh and Madhu Vihar amidst heavy

police deployment.

 

"Life has to go on. Just because there was a blast, we cannot stop

living," said Vandana, who had come to Sarojini Nagar for her Diwali

shopping.

 

While security had been beefed up at the markets in view of

Saturday's blasts, it was business as normal otherwise, with people

buying utensils and jewellery on the occasion of `Dhanteras', on

which buying metal is considered to be auspicious.

 

"No doubt, the blasts have left us shocked. But we are not scared

and this is not going to stop us from celebrating Diwali," said

Devinder, who came to the Karol Bagh market with his wife to buy

jewellery on the occasion of `Dhanteras'.

 

However, as a reminder of the blasts, police was making

announcements over loudspeaker at regular intervals, appealing to

the people to be alert and immediately report to them any suspicious-

looking object that they came across.

 

In Sarojini Nagar market, the worst hit in the serial blasts,

shocked shopkeepers looked on haplessly as workers of the New Delhi

Municipal Council cleared the debris strewn around while police kept

the area out of bounds for people.

 

Refusing to be cowed down by acts of terrorism, Ashok Randhawa,

president of the Sarojini Nagar Market Traders Association,

said, "we are opening our shops. We don't want the terrorists to

think that they have succeeded in scaring us".

 

A large number of people from nearby areas had gathered in the

market, giving police a tough time keeping them off the location of

the blast.

 

On Diwali eve, when the markets in normal circumstances would have

been the scene of festival-time shopping, the shopkeepers instead

were anything but keen on doing business.

 

"Although our shops will remain open, we are not thinking in terms

of doing business at the moment. But, no doubt, we are going to make

heavy losses," Randhawa said, also appealing to Delhi government to

give compensation to the shop-owners whose goods have been damaged

in the blast.

 

In Paharganj area, where the first blast took place, many shops were

open, but the people there still had a shocked look on their faces

as they discussed the incident.

 

A large number of foreign tourists are staying on in the area

braving the blasts. "No. We are not scared. We love India and will

go ahead with plans to see the country. We are not going back," Moy,

an Israeli tourist, said.

 

"It is back to business for us. But of course, our business will be

affected due to the blasts. And I pray to god that such an incident

should not happen again," said Ramesh, who runs a grocery shop.

 

Crowds were also seen at the India Gate lawns enjoying the Sunday

afternoon.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?

ID=IEH20051030065156&Page=H&Title=Top+Stories&Topic=%2D429&