BMC And Hawkers Clash In Public! Police Nab Two Hawkers!
BMC T-Ward has tightened its belt against illegal hawking in Mulund. In its attempt to deter hawkers from doing illegal hawking, BMC T-Ward, since the past few weeks, has been consistently taking repeated action against hawkers on Mulund streets. However, on Wednesday, the angry hawkers lost their temper and, in retaliation, the hawkers collectively gheraoed the BMC Anti-encroachment van at the junction of M.G. Road and displayed their resentment.
The clash between hawkers and BMC in the open became an embarrassment for BMC! In the chaos, BMC sought police intervention!! The arrival of police made the situation even worse because after the police arrested two hawkers the hawkers went berserk and, in protest, the agitated hawkers announced ‘market bandh’ for a day!
According to an eyewitness, on Wednesday, the BMC T-Ward Encroachment Cell was removing illegal hawkers, particularly food and snack stalls, but the hawkers got together and collectively gheraoed the BMV van. Irked at the dadagiri of the hawkers, the BMC staff called the police. The police reached the spot and arrested Rajesh Pujari and Subhash Shukla for preventing government servants from discharging their duty.
The arrest of the two hawkers worsened the situation as hordes of hawkers joined the agitation and marched to Mulund Police station. Annoyed at the stern action of the BMC and the police, the dejected hawkers called a one-day market bandh!!
Ramchandra Gupta, a paani-puri vendor, told Home Times, “We are fed up by inhumane action of the BMC because it has become insensitive to our problem. BMC is not taking our issue seriously and is hell-bent upon harassing us and snatching our daily livelihood. On the one hand, many hawkers are battling with monsoon diseases but somehow making ends meet, but BMC is making our life miserable.”
Hiraman Sansare, another disappointed hawker and member of the Mumbai hawkers’ union, told Home Times, “Several years have passed but still the BMC has not allocated us legal hawking pitches under the Town Vending Committee (TVC). There are no welfare schemes for the hawkers. BMC only unleashes their wrath on us with a baton! Hence last, year a hawker committed suicide due to BMC’s atrocity.” “Does BMC want the hawkers to take the extreme step? he bemoaned!!
