Haldwani, Jan. 2 -- Traders associated with the Potato-Fruit Commission Agents Association and the Grain Merchant Association launched an indefinite strike from New Year's day, bringing business activity in the Haldwani mandi to a near halt and affecting the supply of vegetables and essential commodities to the hill districts. The strike was called to press for a range of demands, including changes in licensing norms, withdrawal of user charges and modification of newly introduced market software, traders said. Kailash Chandra Joshi, president of the Potato-Fruit Commission Agents Association, said traders were left with no option but to go on strike after their repeated representations failed to yield results. "Despite making several requests, the concerns of traders were not addressed. We presented our demands multiple times to the Mandi Parishad but no solution was offered. Now, any negotiations will take place only at the protest site," Joshi said. Among the key demands, Joshi said traders want the licence renewal period restored to five years, as was the practice earlier. "At present, traders are being compelled to renew their licences every year, which is unjustified," he said. He also objected to the introduction of a new market software, calling the process complicated and disruptive. "The software should be modified to make it simpler, and the manual system should be restored. Retail businesses should also be shifted out of the mandi to Shani Bazaar," he added. Trader Vipin Gupta said all traders had decided to keep their shops closed from January 1, leading to a complete shutdown of market operations. "New policies are being framed and imposed on traders without consultation. The responsibility for the closure of mandi and its impact on supplies will rest with the market administration."...