Mangaluru: Harassment of street vendors is unconstitutional says Muneer Katipalla

Mangaluru: Harassment of street vendors is unconstitutional says Muneer Katipalla

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Jul 10, 2026: CPI(M) Dakshina Kannada district secretary Muneer Katipalla has termed the alleged harassment of poor street vendors as an unconstitutional act, saying that authorities are ignoring the hardships faced by the underprivileged.

He was speaking after inaugurating a day-and-night dharna and satyagraha launched by the Dakshina Kannada District Street Vendors’ Association, affiliated with CITU, demanding unrestricted permission for Sunday Bazaar trading.

Katipalla said some ministers and officials, who are unaware of the depth of poverty and hunger among the poor, speak about developing European-style roads and footpaths. He urged the Mangaluru City Corporation to respect the interests of low-income consumers who depend on the Sunday Bazaar for affordable goods.

He warned that if the harassment of Sunday Bazaar traders continues, the agitation would be intensified.

CITU district leaders J. Balakrishna Shetty, Jayanthi Shetty, Sukumar Thokkottu, Sunil Kumar Bajal, B.K. Imtiyaz, Ramesh Ullal, Ravichandra Konchady, Jayanth Naik, Yogeesh Jappinamogaru and Padmavathi Shetty also addressed the gathering and extended their support to the protest.

Prominent members of the Street Vendors’ Association, including Muzaffar Ahmed, Santosh R.S., Vijay Jain, Shivappa, Riyaz Madak, Naushad Kannur, Rafiq Pandeshwar, Sikandar Beg, Ashraf, Fakir Naik, Kaja Moydin, Shivanand, Pradeep, Nagaraj, Jyothi Bai, Lakkamma, Manjula, Hanumantha Naik, Mahesh Naik, Khader Vamanjoor and Syed Farooq, along with former student leader Hidayatullah Addoor and leaders of the Democratic Women’s Organisation, including Pramodini, Vilasini and Yogitha Suvarna, were present at the protest.