Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda has demanded that the state government should provide immediate and fair compensation to those shopkeepers whose shops were gutted in a devastating fire at D-park market on June 9. The affected shopkeepers are awaiting financial relief to restart their business.

Hooda also warned that the Congress would hold a protest if compensation is further delayed. During his visit to the city on Friday, he also spoke to district administration officials over the phone and urged them to ensure immediate financial assistance to the affected shopkeepers.

“The shopkeepers have been without work since their shops and goods were destroyed in the June 9 fire. They are struggling to support their families, but the state government is yet to provide compensation to help them rebuild their shops. This reflects its insensitive attitude towards the affected traders,” Hooda added.

He said it was the government’s responsibility to provide fair and prompt compensation to help the shopkeepers recover from the crisis.