Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (CLP)

Mangaluru, Apr 13: Street vendors under the banner of CITU on Monday Aprll 13 staged a protest in front of the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) opposing the civic body’s eviction drive of petty shops.

Numerous street vendors came out in protest against the MCC's eviction drive as well as poor implementation of the Street Vendors Act. They were later detained by the police.

Addressing the protesters, honorary president of CITU Sunil Kumar Bajal said, "We have come here to gherao the MCC. From past few weeks eviction of street vendors has increased in Ladyhill area, KSRTC area, Lalbagh and other areas. In the past they (MCC workers) used to come during the day, but now they are attacking the shops even during the night like robbers. Street vendors are physically assaulted and their things destroyed."

He further alleged, "The evicted street vendors' goods are taken home by the workers and officials, which is really sad and shameless. From past many days street vendors have been demanding their goods to be returned without any fine, but in vain. No one is allowed to assault street vendors as we have a law now, but the MCC officials are violating the law. We have protested many times in the past, but we do not see any changes in the officials.

"The reason for the increase in the eviction drive near Ladyhill area, KSRTC and Lalbagh areas is the upcoming national athletics event to be held at the end of this month. The chief minister and other high profile people will be visiting Mangala Stadium, and if they see street vendors near the area MCC will feel ashamed, so they have sped up the drive. Today we have come here to gherao the MCC. We do not fear getting arrested, we are ready to go to jail."

Lashing out at the state government, he said, "The chief minister of the state is anti-poor. The Congress government should wake up and must feel the heat of our protest. After today's protest if they continue the drive, we will demonstrate with black flags in front of the Mangala Stadium and if necessary we will get inside the stadium too. We will also gherao KPCC president Parameshwar when he arrives here. We will spoil the image of the MCC on April 30 (day of Athletics Federation Cup inauguration). During the opening ceremony we will demonstrate with black flags. This is a warning to MCC. We have come here to demand our rights, and we will fight till we get them."

When the street vendors tried to enter the MCC office, the police surrounded them and all the protestors were detained and taken to the police station.