As footpath vendors protest against the BBMP’s late-night drive to remove encroachment, support comes from an organisation that is ready to go to court for them
Menaka, a middle-aged woman who fended her family by selling flowers in Gandhi Bazaar area, protested strongly when policemen along with some local leaders forced roadside vendors to end their agitation near Gandhi Bazaar Circle.
‘’How am I going to pay my kids school fee’’, she asked the men in khaki loudly.
“‘We will continue the protest. Do what you can,’’ she told them.
There were hundreds of Menakas assembled at Gandhi Bazaar Circle protesting against the evacuation of five-decade-old roadside shops on Tuesday.
‘’Do any of them care about what’s going to happen to my family if I’m not allowed to sell flowers,’’ she asked.
She was worried about the future of her daughter Lavanya, a 7th grader, and son Jnanesh, a 1st grader.
“They will invariably have to come to the footpath if I can’t pay their tuition fees,” she said.
Chinnamma, another flower vendor, was worried about loan sharks.
“I’d taken Rs30,000 loan on high rate of interest. I had bought garlands and a variety of flowers with that money. But the BBMP (Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike) men did not leave anything behind. I am 70 and I have been doing business here for the past 50 years. The shop owner didn’t have any complaint against me,” she said.
She was also worried about her family. She has to support her grandchildren and pay Rs3,000 rent.
“Tell me, where can I go at this age,’’ she asked with a quiver in her voice.
Vishwanatha Sharma RV, an astrologer, was critical of the vendors.
He said they are paying the price for voting indiscriminately.
However, support came to them from an organisation, Just. KN Jagadish Kumar, its president, said the BBMP should not meddle with the lives of roadside vendors as long as the latter carry on with their business.
“We will approach BBMP commissioner MK Shankarlinge Gowda and explain to him the article of Right to Life 19 (1) G of the constitution which gives them the right to conduct their businesses,’’ he said.
“If the commissioner fails to respond to their appeal, we will approach the court and make him too a party,” he added.
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