Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS/SB)

Mangalore, Jun 15: As many as 25 unions came together to stage a 24-hour dharna in front of the Mangalore City Corporation on Wednesday June 15 at 10.00 am to oppose the evacuation drive carried out on street vending business by the MCC administration.

Leaders of CPI(M) Mangalore city unit, Indian National Congress Mangalore city block, JD(S) Mangalore unit, DYFI and CITU among other units supported the street vendors and staged a dharna which was inaugurated by corporator Mariamma Thomas formally.

Addressing the gathering Mariamma Thomas said that alternative arrangements has to be done by the BJP led MCC administration as about 300 street vendors’ life is on jeopardy with the roar of ‘tiger’.

Addressing the protestors, JD(S) state general secretary M G Hegde said that as street vending business is allowed in any part of the country and in all other cities, what made MCC to take this bizarre step of prohibiting street vending business. He added that in our stable economy country, street vending business has strengthened the economy of the nation. Thus ‘tiger’ operation is nothing but barbaric.

Popular social activist in the city and Congress leader P V Mohan said that the option given by the MCC officials to street vendors that they will be moved inside the central market after their evacuation is nothing but an eyewash act as there are no people moving to buy any goods.

The protestors demanded that alternative business arrangements should be made for them and also that the operation tiger needs to be stopped with immediate effect. They also demanded reasonable compensation for those who suffered due to evacuation drive which was carried through ‘tiger operation’.

The dharna that kicked off on Wednesday June 15 will conclude on Thursday June 16 morning. The demands of protestors are expected to be addressed by the mayor and commissioner in the mean time.