Mangaluru, April 14, 2015: The Mangaluru City Corporation action of eviction of street vendors from Lalbagh, Ladyhill and KSRTC bus stand area in the city in the recent few days, has invited sharp criticisms from street vendors. A protest was also staged by hundreds of street vendors in front of the MCC office on April 13, Monday under the aegis of the CITU.
Speaking on the occasion, CITU leader Sunil Kumar Bajal charged the City Corporation of harassing street vendors by evicting them without making any rehabilitation arrangement. He also alleged that the upcoming Masters Athletics Sports Meet at Mangala Stadium was the reason for the eviction of street vendors. He further alleged that the authorities even targeted street vendors during night. Another complaint was that the MCC authorities failed to return the seized goods of the street vendors even after they pay the penalty.
“The street vendors will resort to black flag demonstration and stage protest outside the venue of the athletics event on the inaugural day if the MCC continues with the eviction drive,” he warned.
When the protestors tried to enter the MCC office they were prevented and detained by the police. The protestors were later let off.