Unlock-1: Shopping malls open in UP but shops inside remain shut

After two months of coronavirus-enforced lockdown when the shopping malls opened across Uttar Pradesh on Monday (June 8), the traders body decided to keep the shops closed.

In a bizarre incident, taking netizens by storm, all malls in the state including the capital city Lucknow remained open but the shops inside were shut.

According to a report by news agency ANI, the trader’s body took the decision at the Adarsh Vyapar Mandal meeting in Lucknow.

“Exclude the rent and common area maintenance fee during the lockdown. Secondly, give subsidy on both rent and maintenance fee for the coming 12 months,” demanded Sanjay Gupta, State President of Adarsh Vyapar Mandal, Uttar Pradesh.

Gupta said if the demands of the association was not heard and the matter was not resolved, this process may continue in the coming weeks.

“The shopping mall owners did not listen to the demand of the shopkeepers, so the shopkeepers have been forced to take this decision,” Gupta added.

A memorandum has also been given to the District Magistrate of Lucknow in this regard.