Jantar Mantar protest: Delhi hotels allege booking curbs; traders fear hit to business

Hotel associations in Delhi report that police have advised against accepting bookings from the Delhi-NCR area.

NEW DELHI: Hotel associations in Delhi have claimed that police have asked them to refrain from accepting fresh room bookings from customers coming from Delhi-NCR and to verify whether visitors are tourists or could be protesters or their supporters.The alleged directions come ahead of the Oct 10 protest at Jantar Mantar, called by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Left students’ outfits and AAP’s student wing, demanding the resignation of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The move is a part of heightened security arrangements in the capital.While hotel associations have circulated messages to their members about the alleged instructions, the development has triggered mixed reactions among traders.

Some have expressed concern over the practical difficulties of screening guests. Others wondered about the wider impact of such security restrictions on business and public movement.A member of Paharganj Hotels’ Mahasang said the association had asked its members to remain cautious while handling bookings, particularly those made for short stays.“Usually, people from Delhi-NCR do not book hotels in Delhi unless they have a medical emergency, are attending events or have some other specific purpose.

We have asked hotel owners to verify the reason for their visit, especially in cases of short-duration bookings. However, individual members will have to take a call,” the member said.Sources said police officers were keeping a watch on people arriving in large groups or booking accommodation for short periods around the protest dates. Third-party bookings were also being tracked.A senior member of the Ajmal Khan Road Vyapar Mandal said messages had also been circulated to guest houses and hotels in Karol Bagh following requests from police personnel.“Karol Bagh is a centrally located commercial hub where people can find guest houses and hotels. While we verify the identity documents of guests, including Aadhaar cards, it is difficult to deny them entry or to establish whether the reasons they give for their visit are genuine. Nevertheless, members have been asked to remain alert,” a member said.Traders said the security measures and restrictions on movement could have a wider impact beyond the hospitality sector.As several facilities and prominent roads to central Delhi are either shut or barricaded, and metro stations are expected to be shut, people may feel discouraged to step out, including families planning to dine out or visit markets.A member of the National Restaurant Association said such restrictions often end up affecting ordinary residents and businesses. “It is unfortunate that New Delhi, despite being the national capital, cannot deal with such protests without causing inconvenience to its people. Every time such an event happens, the general public suffers,” the member said.