‘Mata pencaharian adalah hak saya’: Pelaku usaha Delhi menghitung kerugian akibat protes dan pembatasan polisi

Traders in India’s capital told CNA that recent demonstrations and security curbs have hurt sales and footfall, raising questions over how to balance the right to protest with livelihoods.

SINGAPORE/NEW DELHI: For more than seven decades, Sarthi Sawhney's family-run shawl store, located near Jantar Mantar, a prominent demonstration venue in central Delhi, has weathered countless protests - with little disruption to business.But last weekend was different.Days of unrest forced KCS Kashmir Shawl Emporium, which opened in 1950, to shut on Saturday (Oct 10), Sawhney said.

Thousands of police and paramilitary personnel were deployed ahead of youth-led protests demanding the resignation of India's chief election commissioner over alleged electoral roll irregularities.

Police cited public safety concerns, violations during previous demonstrations and insufficient notice for the rally as reasons for the heightened security.

Roads were blocked by layers of barricades - with widespread traffic disruptions and internet blackouts also reported.

Saturday’s rally was said to be the biggest yet, according to organisers.

While it is not known how many people ultimately took part, more than 7,000 were detained across Delhi by the end of the day, according to local media reports.

Businesses across Connaught Place, Janpath and Khan Market in central New Delhi reported sharp falls in sales and customer footfall following the weekend protests, said traders.

Atul Bhargava, president of the New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA), told CNA that businesses around Connaught Place, one of Delhi's busiest commercial and shopping districts, made roughly 30 per cent of their usual sales in the days following the protests.

He attributed the drop to road blocks and advisories discouraging people from visiting the area.

Businesses elsewhere in the capital remained open - but few received customers.

The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), a Delhi traders’ body, estimates that 20 billion rupees (US$210 million) worth of business, across sectors like retail, hospitality, transport and tourism, had been affected on Oct 10.

The disruption also comes at a particularly critical time, as India gears up for the festive shopping period stretching from Navratri on Oct 11 through the end of Diwali festivities on Nov 11.

Barricades and metro station closures in demonstration areas could affect businesses during one of the biggest earning periods of the year, experts said.

“Now is a time when we make money for the next six months,” said Sanjiv Mehra, president of the Khan Market Traders Association (KMTA) - adding that festive sales help businesses make up for periods when demand is weaker.

Sawhney’s store reopened the next day, but customers still stayed away, he said - as barricades and road closures restricted access to the area.

“We opened the store but there was not going to be any commercial activity.”

The protests and the Indian government’s security response have created an economic ripple effect - hitting shops, workers and drivers, trade bodies and businesses told CNA.

The disruptions highlighted the challenge of balancing public order and the right to protest with people’s livelihoods, they said.

KMTA’s Mehra said sales remained depressed - even after some businesses reopened because customers were reluctant or unable to reach shopping areas like markets.

Opening without customers could actually deepen losses, he said - noting that shops still had to pay staff while bearing operational costs such as electricity, rent and water.

"If you don't open the shutter, then your damage would be rental plus the salary of the staff … Today any business in Khan Market is paying rental from 50,000 to 300,000 rupees per day," Mehra added.

The disruptions have also impacted transport workers in the capital.

Ajay, an Uber driver who asked to be identified only by his first name, estimated that his earnings had halved as restrictions limited access to Connaught Place as well as other commercial areas and railway and metro stations, where he typically finds passengers.

“If roads are closed, then we suffer losses,” Ajay said.

Some business owners have questioned whether restrictions needed to be as extensive.

Sawhney said that protests around the Jantar Mantar protest site over the years had been a regular feature, without significantly affecting commercial footfall.

Businesses and food deliveries continued to operate despite demonstrations, he said.

But this time, heavier police restrictions made his store difficult to access, he added.

Citing security concerns and insufficient notice, Delhi Police denied protesters permission to assemble at Jantar Mantar on Saturday and instead designated three alternative protest sites.

But road barricades and other restrictions remained in the vicinity for the rest of the weekend.

Organisers had criticised the move, saying that shifting protests away from Delhi's political centre would reduce their visibility.

The disruption has even been felt away from central protest areas.

Restaurant chain owner Zachariah Jacob, whose Mahabelly branches are largely based in south Delhi - over 15km away from where the protests took place - still recorded a 30 per cent drop in business over the protest weekend.

More people stayed home because of uncertainty over restrictions and travel advisories, he said.

A representative of Nathu Sweets, founded in 1939, said that they had in fact seen “a spike in orders” during earlier protests in July, as people across India placed bulk food orders in support of protesters.

This time, however, wider restrictions and internet disruptions affected deliveries and customers' ability to reach its outlets, the representative said.

“Because the internet was shut (down), orders - via online delivery services - were shut for us,” the representative said, adding that “all other corporate orders” were also restricted because of areas being “cordoned off”.

Weekend revenue fell to around 20 per cent of its usual level, the representative said.

Despite losses, several small businesses and traders said they still recognised the public’s right to protest.

Their concern, however, was how that could co-exist with their right to earn a living.

“Protest is the right. I am not denying it. Livelihood is my right," NDTA’s Bhargava said, noting that businesses still face mounting costs.

Business owners and traders themselves differ over whether Jantar Mantar remains a suitable site for protests.

While some said previous demonstrations held there caused relatively little disruption to nearby businesses, others argued that the site was unsuitable for large gatherings because of its limited capacity as well as proximity to offices, shops and other busy commercial areas.

But traders also fear that moving demonstrations elsewhere could simply shift the economic disruption to other parts of the capital like Ramlila Maidan in central Delhi, traditionally used for religious festivals, weddings and entertainment events.

The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), for instance, has objected to Ramlila Maidan being used as a protest site because of its proximity to major Old Delhi commercial hubs, including Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar and Chawri Bazar, it said in a statement on Monday.

Meanwhile, trade groups are taking their concerns to court this week - filing an intervention application on Monday to be heard before India’s Supreme Court to decide on issues surrounding Jantar Mantar and other protest sites.

Associations want protests moved away from areas where businesses and the wider public could be affected, KMTA’s Mehra said.

“I hope things get back to normalcy and better sense prevails on everybody,” said NDTA’s Bhargava - “whether it is the government, the opposition (or) authorities who are making decisions ... in the interest of everybody”.

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Pedagang di ibu kota India mengatakan kepada CNA bahwa demonstrasi dan pembatasan keamanan terbaru telah merugikan penjualan dan kunjungan pembeli, memunculkan pertanyaan tentang bagaimana menyeimbangkan hak untuk protes dengan mata pencaharian.

SINGAPURA/NEW DELHI: Selama lebih dari tujuh dekade, toko selendang milik keluarga Sarthi Sawhney, yang terletak di dekat Jantar Mantar, lokasi demonstrasi terkemuka di pusat Delhi, telah melewati berbagai protes - dengan sedikit gangguan terhadap bisnis. Namun akhir pekan lalu berbeda. Kerusuhan selama beberapa hari memaksa KCS Kashmir Shawl Emporium, yang dibuka pada 1950, tutup pada Sabtu (10 Oktober), kata Sawhney.

Ribuan polisi dan personel paramiliter dikerahkan menjelang protes yang dipimpin anak muda yang menuntut pengunduran diri komisioner pemilihan umum India atas dugaan penyimpangan daftar pemilih.

Polisi menyebut alasan keamanan publik, pelanggaran selama demonstrasi sebelumnya, dan pemberitahuan yang tidak memadai untuk unjuk rasa sebagai alasan peningkatan keamanan.

Jalan-jalan diblokir oleh lapisan barikade - dengan gangguan lalu lintas yang meluas dan pemadaman internet juga dilaporkan.

Unjuk rasa Sabtu disebut sebagai yang terbesar sejauh ini, menurut penyelenggara.

Meskipun tidak diketahui berapa banyak orang yang akhirnya ikut serta, lebih dari 7.000 orang ditahan di seluruh Delhi pada akhir hari itu, menurut laporan media lokal.

Bisnis di sepanjang Connaught Place, Janpath, dan Khan Market di pusat New Delhi melaporkan penurunan tajam dalam penjualan dan kunjungan pelanggan setelah protes akhir pekan, kata para pedagang.

Atul Bhargava, presiden New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA), mengatakan kepada CNA bahwa bisnis di sekitar Connaught Place, salah satu distrik komersial dan perbelanjaan tersibuk di Delhi, hanya menghasilkan sekitar 30 persen dari penjualan biasa mereka pada hari-hari setelah protes.

Ia mengaitkan penurunan itu dengan blokade jalan dan imbauan yang mencegah orang mengunjungi area tersebut.

Bisnis di tempat lain di ibu kota tetap buka - tetapi hanya sedikit yang menerima pelanggan.

Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), badan pedagang Delhi, memperkirakan bisnis senilai 20 miliar rupee (US$210 juta), di berbagai sektor seperti ritel, perhotelan, transportasi, dan pariwisata, terdampak pada 10 Oktober.

Gangguan ini juga terjadi pada waktu yang sangat kritis, saat India bersiap untuk periode belanja festival yang berlangsung dari Navratri pada 11 Oktober hingga akhir perayaan Diwali pada 11 November.

Barikade dan penutupan stasiun metro di area demonstrasi dapat memengaruhi bisnis selama salah satu periode pendapatan terbesar tahun ini, kata para ahli.

"Sekarang adalah waktu ketika kami menghasilkan uang untuk enam bulan berikutnya," kata Sanjiv Mehra, presiden Khan Market Traders Association (KMTA) - seraya menambahkan bahwa penjualan festival membantu bisnis menutupi periode ketika permintaan lebih lemah.

Toko Sawhney dibuka kembali keesokan harinya, tetapi pelanggan tetap menjauh, katanya - karena barikade dan penutupan jalan membatasi akses ke area tersebut.

"Kami membuka toko tetapi tidak akan ada aktivitas komersial."

Protes dan respons keamanan pemerintah India telah menciptakan efek berantai ekonomi - menghantam toko, pekerja, dan pengemudi, kata badan perdagangan dan bisnis kepada CNA.

Gangguan tersebut menyoroti tantangan menyeimbangkan ketertiban umum dan hak untuk protes dengan mata pencaharian masyarakat, kata mereka.

Mehra dari KMTA mengatakan penjualan tetap tertekan - bahkan setelah beberapa bisnis dibuka kembali karena pelanggan enggan atau tidak dapat mencapai area perbelanjaan seperti pasar.

Membuka tanpa pelanggan justru dapat memperdalam kerugian, katanya - seraya mencatat bahwa toko tetap harus membayar staf sambil menanggung biaya operasional seperti listrik, sewa, dan air.

"Jika Anda tidak membuka rolling door, maka kerugian Anda adalah sewa ditambah gaji staf ... Hari ini bisnis apa pun di Khan Market membayar sewa dari 50.000 hingga 300.000 rupee per hari," tambah Mehra.

Gangguan tersebut juga berdampak pada pekerja transportasi di ibu kota.

Ajay, seorang pengemudi Uber yang meminta hanya disebutkan nama depannya, memperkirakan bahwa penghasilannya berkurang setengah karena pembatasan membatasi akses ke Connaught Place serta area komersial lain dan stasiun kereta dan metro, tempat ia biasanya mendapatkan penumpang.

"Jika jalan ditutup, maka kami mengalami kerugian," kata Ajay.

Beberapa pemilik bisnis mempertanyakan apakah pembatasan perlu sebesar itu.

Sawhney mengatakan bahwa protes di sekitar lokasi protes Jantar Mantar selama bertahun-tahun telah menjadi hal biasa, tanpa secara signifikan memengaruhi kunjungan komersial.

Bisnis dan pengiriman makanan terus beroperasi meskipun ada demonstrasi, katanya.

Namun kali ini, pembatasan polisi yang lebih ketat membuat tokonya sulit diakses, tambahnya.

Dengan alasan kekhawatiran keamanan dan pemberitahuan yang tidak memadai, Polisi Delhi menolak izin para pengunjuk rasa untuk berkumpul di Jantar Mantar pada Sabtu dan sebagai gantinya menunjuk tiga lokasi protes alternatif.

Namun barikade jalan dan pembatasan lain tetap ada di sekitar lokasi selama sisa akhir pekan.

Penyelenggara mengkritik langkah tersebut, dengan mengatakan bahwa memindahkan protes dari pusat politik Delhi akan mengurangi visibilitas mereka.

Gangguan bahkan terasa jauh dari area protes pusat.

Pemilik jaringan restoran Zachariah Jacob, yang cabang Mahabelly-nya sebagian besar berbasis di Delhi selatan - lebih dari 15 km dari tempat protes berlangsung - tetap mencatat penurunan bisnis sebesar 30 persen selama akhir pekan protes.

Lebih banyak orang tinggal di rumah karena ketidakpastian atas pembatasan dan imbauan perjalanan, katanya.

Seorang perwakilan Nathu Sweets, yang didirikan pada 1939, mengatakan bahwa mereka justru melihat "lonjakan pesanan" selama protes sebelumnya pada Juli, karena orang-orang di seluruh India memesan makanan dalam jumlah besar untuk mendukung pengunjuk rasa.

Namun kali ini, pembatasan yang lebih luas dan gangguan internet memengaruhi pengiriman dan kemampuan pelanggan untuk mencapai gerai mereka, kata perwakilan tersebut.

"Karena internet dimatikan, pesanan - melalui layanan pengiriman online - terhenti bagi kami," kata perwakilan tersebut, seraya menambahkan bahwa "semua pesanan korporat lainnya" juga dibatasi karena area "dikordon".

Pendapatan akhir pekan turun menjadi sekitar 20 persen dari tingkat biasanya, kata perwakilan tersebut.

Meskipun mengalami kerugian, beberapa usaha kecil dan pedagang mengatakan mereka tetap mengakui hak publik untuk protes.

Namun kekhawatiran mereka adalah bagaimana hal itu dapat hidup berdampingan dengan hak mereka untuk mencari nafkah.

"Protes adalah hak. Saya tidak menyangkalnya. Mata pencaharian adalah hak saya," kata Bhargava dari NDTA, seraya mencatat bahwa bisnis tetap menghadapi biaya yang meningkat.

Pemilik bisnis dan pedagang sendiri berbeda pendapat tentang apakah Jantar Mantar tetap menjadi lokasi yang cocok untuk protes.

Sementara beberapa mengatakan demonstrasi sebelumnya yang digelar di sana menyebabkan gangguan yang relatif kecil bagi bisnis di sekitarnya, yang lain berpendapat bahwa lokasi itu tidak cocok untuk pertemuan besar karena kapasitasnya yang terbatas serta kedekatannya dengan kantor, toko, dan area komersial sibuk lainnya.

Namun para pedagang juga khawatir bahwa memindahkan demonstrasi ke tempat lain hanya akan menggeser gangguan ekonomi ke bagian lain ibu kota seperti Ramlila Maidan di pusat Delhi, yang secara tradisional digunakan untuk festival keagamaan, pernikahan, dan acara hiburan.

Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), misalnya, telah menolak Ramlila Maidan digunakan sebagai lokasi protes karena kedekatannya dengan pusat komersial utama Delhi Lama, termasuk Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar, dan Chawri Bazar, demikian disampaikan dalam pernyataan pada Senin.

Sementara itu, kelompok perdagangan membawa kekhawatiran mereka ke pengadilan pekan ini - mengajukan permohonan intervensi pada Senin untuk didengar di hadapan Mahkamah Agung India guna memutuskan isu-isu seputar Jantar Mantar dan lokasi protes lainnya.

Asosiasi ingin protes dipindahkan dari area di mana bisnis dan masyarakat luas dapat terdampak, kata Mehra dari KMTA.

"Saya berharap keadaan kembali normal dan akal sehat menang pada semua pihak," kata Bhargava dari NDTA - "baik itu pemerintah, oposisi, maupun otoritas yang membuat keputusan ... demi kepentingan semua orang".

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