Chandigarh Beopar Mandal’s First AGM: Traders Unite, Slam Anti-Trader Policies, Announce Beopar Bhawan

The Voice of Chandigarh: The first Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Chandigarh Beopar Mandal (CBM), the city’s apex trader welfare organization, was held with great enthusiasm. The event witnessed large participation from trader leaders and members, reflecting the unity and strength of the trading community.

The programme saw strong criticism of the Chandigarh Administration’s anti-trader policies. On this occasion, the CBM leadership expressed deep disappointment and concern over the lack of support and initiatives for traders and urged the administration to work in the interest of the trading fraternity.

Making a significant announcement, it was stated that CBM will soon establish its own ‘Beopar Bhawan’, which will serve as a centre for trader welfare activities and a symbol of the organization’s growing strength.

During the AGM, nine new trader leaders from prominent trader and market associations of Chandigarh were inducted into the 376-member body. This step is expected to further enhance the organization’s outreach and influence.

CBM President Sanjeev Chadha addressed the gathering and shared details of meetings held with officials of the Municipal Corporation, Taxation Department, Police, and Administration regarding various trader issues. He informed that he has also held more than five meetings with the Chandigarh Administrator on serious matters such as property tax, one-time settlement of VAT cases, and infrastructure development.
Chadha expressed heartfelt gratitude for the unprecedented contribution made by traders to the relief fund for flood-affected people in Punjab. He also thanked the Chandigarh Administrator and the Governor of Punjab for flagging off the trucks carrying relief material sent by CBM.

A major highlight of the event was the felicitation of Charanjiv Singh, Chairman, CBM, who has been nominated as a member of the National Trader Welfare Board by the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India. He stated that this honour belongs not only to him but to the entire CBM family.

CBM Vice President Diwakar Sahoonja urged the traders present to pass a resolution declaring all living founders of CBM as lifetime members — a proposal unanimously accepted by all. He criticised certain vested interests in the bureaucracy, legal fraternity, and political parties that are preventing solutions to key trader issues, especially the building byelaws related to commercial properties in Chandigarh, which require need-based amendments to boost the economy.

Other senior office-bearers — Mohit Sood (President, Grain Market), Ravikant Sharma (Former Mayor), Radhey Lal Bajaj (Finance Secretary, CBM), Subhash Narang (Senior Vice President), and Gursharan Batra (Patron) — also shared their views.