CITU holds massive protest in Mangaluru seeking continuation of Sunday Bazaar trade

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Jun 12, 2026: A massive protest was staged in front of the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) office on Thursday under the leadership of the Dakshina Kannada District Street Vendors’ Association (CITU), demanding that Sunday Bazaar traders be allowed to continue their business near Pura Bhavan until an alternative arrangement is made.

The protesters condemned what they described as attempts to evict vendors operating at the Sunday Bazaar and urged the authorities to ensure uninterrupted trading rights until a suitable relocation plan is implemented.

Inaugurating the protest, CITU general secretary Sunil Kumar Bajal said Sunday bazaars exist in cities across the country, but certain vested interests were portraying street vendors as criminals. He asserted that vendors would unitedly resist and defeat such attempts.

He warned that if street vendors were removed under pressure from influential groups without providing an alternative arrangement, the agitation would be intensified. He also demanded that the authorities continue to permit Sunday Bazaar activities near Pura Bhavan until a permanent solution is found.

Association honorary president B.K. Imtiyaz said the issue involved not only the interests of vendors but also those of consumers who depend on the affordable marketplace. He stressed that officials must act in accordance with the Street Vendors Act rather than succumb to pressure from external forces.

DYFI district secretary Santosh Bajal and CITU district treasurer Yogish Jappinamogaru also addressed the gathering.

Prior to the protest, a procession was taken out from Ballalbagh Circle to the MCC office.

MCC Deputy Commissioner Swamy A.L. received the memorandum submitted by the protesters and listened to the grievances of the street vendors. Police from the Barke station had made adequate security arrangements during the demonstration.

Among those present were association president Muzaffar Ahmed, vice-presidents Hasan Kudroli, M.N. Shivappa and Abdul Khader, along with Hamza Mohammed, Vijay Jain, Sikander Beg, Naushad Kannur, Rafiq Pandeshwar, Mabel D’Souza, Doreswamy, Philomina D’Souza, Steny D’Souza, M.S. Moyiddin, Rafiq, Gadigappa, Syed Sadiq, Shivananda, Lakkamma, Selvaraj, Khaja Mohiyuddin, Jagadish Poojary, Guddappa, Tayyub Bengre, Manoj Urwa Store, Jagadish Bajal, Chandrashekar Rao, Mutturaj, Sabuddin and several others.