This story is from March 25, 2020

‘Lucknow administration had assured us on essentials; this is betrayal’

People who trusted the administration and did not resort to stockpiling before the lockdown found themselves in a difficult situation for the second consecutive day on Tuesday. Police forced many grocery and vegetable shops to shut down at many places despite exemptions to those selling essential commodities.
‘Lucknow administration had assured us on essentials; this is betrayal’
Grocery and vegetable shops were shut at many places despite exemptions
LUCKNOW: People who trusted the administration and did not resort to stockpiling before the lockdown found themselves in a difficult situation for the second consecutive day on Tuesday. Police forced many grocery and vegetable shops to shut down at many places despite exemptions to those selling essential commodities.
“I was relaxed that there would be no shortage of vegetables as administration had assured the availability of essential items, but I was shocked to see all shops shut in Dandhaiya market around noon.
A few vendors who were packing up said police have directed them to close down. I then went to Nishatganj. There also, vendors told me that police have forced them to close. Finally, I found a few shops open in Narhi market,” said Prateek Mishra, a resident of Mahanagar.
In Aliganj, Hemant Rastogi could not find vegetables and fruits.
“I had given a long lecture to neighbours on being responsible citizens when I saw them on Saturday stockpiling grocery and vegetables. I told them to trust the administration which was assuring that there will be no shortage of essential items. But today, all neighbours were laughing at me and I was feeling betrayed,” he said.
In Jankipuram, Kamla Prasad said, “I was told by shopkeepers that police had asked them to close shops to avoid public gathering. I requested a trader friend who helped me get wheat flour and rice from a shop secretly,” he said.
Many people had to return home disappointed as supermarkets as well as big and small general stores were closed.
“If police continue to act like this, it will lead to mobs in shops that are open, defeating the very purpose of social distancing,” said Meenakshi Gupta, a single mother in Vrindavan Colony who could not get milk.
Mangalam Rawat, a vegetable shop owner in Aashiana, said he was shutting shop because police were threatening to book him for violating lockdown orders.
“The stock will rot if I don’t sell it,” he said.
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