Mulundkars’ Gandhigiri leads to BMC’s Dadagiri!!
It is rightly said, “The power of the people is much stronger than the people in power!” A picture of ‘people power’ was witnessed last week when a group of concerned citizens of Mulund got together and, with folded hands, urged the BMC T-Ward Assistant Commissioner, Kishore Gandhi, to initiate action against the illegal encroachment of footpaths by hawkers. The group had even warned that if he failed to take action, then they would approach the BMC Commissioner and urge him to dismiss Kishore Gandhi from his post on charges of dereliction of duty.
Though the group adopted Gandhigiri to solve their issue, Kishore Gandhi was so terrified by the people’s power, that he adopted ‘dadagiri’ and unleashed terror on the hawkers encroaching upon the footpaths. In the massive crackdown on illegal hawkers and street food stalls, BMC razed about 80 stalls, 30 stalls outside Mulund railway station and seized 7 gas cylinders. The hawkers affected by the brutal BMC crackdown lamented that BMC has literally ruined them. A hawker said, “This was the most brutal crackdown on hawkers in recent times. The cruel BMC officers showed no empathy and destroyed all our stalls, chairs and tables and devastated us so that we would not resume our business.”
While the hawkers shed tears on the vicious crackdown, the citizens welcomed BMC’s action. Irfan Ansari, a local resident, told Home Times, “I am overwhelmed by the strict action by BMC. Such kind of stringent action must be carried out in every nook and corner of Mulund. If BMC T-Ward continues to carry out such rigorous action against the illegal hawkers, then I am sure soon Mulund will be free from the hawkers’ menace.”
Supporting the BMC action, Sinaponu Shettiyar said, “BMC should focus primarily on the illegal hawkers near Mulund railway station. However, the action should be limited only against illegal hawkers and legal hawkers should be allowed to do business as it is a matter of their daily bread.”
However, condemning BMC for its prejudice, Prashant Sheth, a Mulundkar, said, “BMC continued its action against hawkers on Wednesday also, but I witnessed BMC taking action only against the stalls occupying the roads while the hawkers on the footpaths were left untouched!! Such kind of partiality raises a question on the honesty of BMC’s action.” He added, “In addition, people allege that the footpaths of Mulund have been given to hawkers on rent and BMC has nexus with the notorious elements of the society who are indulging in such dirty business.”
Irked at the soft action against the hawkers on the footpath, a hawker selling tea on the road questioned, “BMC should take equal action all hawkers, be they on the road or footpath. In fact, the footpath is for people to walk, hence BMC should be more stringent against them. But, it is tragic BMC has been kind to them and harsh on us.”
The Hawker’s Association agitated by the BMC T-Ward action raised eyebrows over the BMC action. They alleged, on one hand, BMC’s Town Vending Committee is just on paper and is moving at a snail’s speed, while on other hand BMC takes such brutal action against us. Under such circumstances what should the hawkers do?”
