Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Congress party workers clashed in Kandivali (East) over the issue of hawker eviction on Wednesday. The clashes erupted after a meeting held by Congress city chief Sanjay Nirupam on Akurli Road. While the MNS is against hawkers, the Congress is batting for them. It is estimated that 3.5 lakh people earn their livelihood from 1.5 lakh stalls.
Mr. Nirupam said, “As my vehicle was moving out, a couple of MNS workers tried to chase it. Our people beat them up. Street shopping can be seen world over. In India, Parliament has allowed the poor to sell on streets for their livelihood. They should be allowed to sell in demarcated hawking zones. But BMC and the ruling parties aren’t interested in legalising hawkers. This is an extortion racket, which is why the BMC doesn’t want to regularise hawkers.”
Unconfirmed reports said MNS workers were opposed by hawkers in Ghatkopar, where they had gone to evict hawkers. About 33 MNS workers have already been arrested for harassing hawkers. Mr. Nirupam said the BMC is yet to set up a Town Vending Committee to issue hawker licenses. “We want them to implement the National Hawking Policy of 2014,” he said.
Leaders of both parties have separately met Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta over the issue. On Wednesday, the MNS took out a silent rally in Dadar to press for hawker eviction. The Congress is planning meetings at various places, including at Malad on October 28 and at Andheri on October 30.
Sena, BJP silent
The Shiv Sena and the BJP have chosen to remain silent spectators as the MNS and Congress battle it out. Yashwant Jadhav, Shiv Sena Leader in the BMC, said, “The BMC should act against illegal hawkers. We are all for sustained action against hawkers, which the administration is already doing. The MNS has no agenda and it’s a drowning party; they want an issue to salvage themselves.”
BJP Leader in the BMC Manoj Kotak said, “The civic body and Railways officials should take action against illegal hawkers, but people cannot be allowed to take the law into their own hands.” Jai Shankar Singh of the Azad Hawker’s Union said, “The Municipal Commissioner is just taking orders from the Chief Minister without heeding either Parliament’s decisions or court orders. The MNS cannot be allowed to get away with their violent diktats.”