The government plans to impose lockdown 2.0 to control the worrying increase in COVID-19 patients, and traders are unhappy with it. They say a lockdown is not the only option and will not keep their shops shut if it is imposed.

mid-day spoke to the representatives of several traders’ associations regarding their plans. Federation of Retail Cloth dealers’ Association’s Honorary Secretary, Haren Mehta said, “Lockdown is not a solution. Trains and buses are running at full capacity. They have to decrease crowds and divide timings for 50 per cent capacity. In many areas Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officers don’t take action. If a politician holds a function then the rules will be different for him or her. The BMC should act against hawkers who don’t wear masks and don’t maintain social distancing. We keep sanitisers in our shops and also check the temperature of customers. Masks are compulsory in shops. We had earlier shut shop for four months in the previous lockdown and supported the government, but now we cannot.”