With their savings exhausted, evicted vendors of Gandhi Bazaar spent two nights out in the cold, fearing the BBMP might take over the place.
It was lunchtime, but Kamala, Devaki and Sarojamma, roadside flower vendors of Gandhi Bazaar, were still engrossed in discussion about their future, which grows bleak as the days pass by.
Late on Monday, the BBMP’s men and machines bulldozed their makeshift shops to ease traffic congestion.
As the talks were taking them nowhere, the women suddenly felt hungry and decided to have lunch at Rotighar restaurant. Devaki went to the counter and returned with a sheepish look. “The hotel is charging Rs30 per head,” she whispered into the ears of her friends.
They did not have money for three meals. Hence, they decided to order just two and share them.
Later, when they stepped out of the restaurant to join the protesters, the question worrying them was how to feed their children at night.
The 500-odd protesters comprised mostly women, who brought their children along with them to spend the night there. Even as they raised slogans denouncing the BBMP’s demolition drive, none of the BBMP officials or representatives of political parties came to enquire about their problems.
“Vendors have to earn every day. Their savings have exhausted. The clock is ticking. I’m ready to do anything to start my business,” said Krishnaiah, a vendor. Fearing the BBMP might take over what is left of their shops, most vendors decided to spend the night where their shops once stood.
“We got information that BBMP workers are planning to cut the trees (vendors used to conduct their business in structures built around the trunk of trees). Hence, yesterday itself, we had brought mats to sleep in the ruins. Today too, we will sleep here.
Otherwise, we will lose our place,’’ said Manjamma, a fruit vendor.
As the protest continued, Sudha Mishra, a local homemaker, walked to the venue and extended her support to the vendors. Visibly moved, Sudha said she was attached to the place.
“I came here when I was just a kid. From those days, I used to visit this bazaar to buy fruits, vegetables and flowers. I learnt the local language by talking with the vendors here. Who said vendors here are creating problems for the people? We want the market back’’, she said. On hearing this, the protestors clapped and jumped with joy.
Inspired, Sudha continued: “I have high BP (blood pressure). The appalling sight of the vibrant bazaar now turned into debris makes my blood boil. If I find the BBMP men or JCB, I will throw stones at them,’’ she added.
The second day of protests also saw some interesting turn of events.
Ravi Belagere, a senior journalist, expressed his solidarity with the protesters by taking over as president of Gandhi Bazaar Flower, Vegetable and Fruit Roadside Vendors’ Association.
He promised them that the issue would be resolved in a day or two and he would vacate the president’s post after that.
“It’s not just about roadside vendors. Where are we, the residents of Basavanagudi and other localities, expected to go? There is no substitute for Gandhi Bazaar market,’’ he said.
Later, vendors marched to the BBMP office located in NR Square.
BT Ramesh, the chief engineer, promised them that he would find solution to their problem and sought time till Saturday.
On Wednesday, too, the protesters spent the night in the open along with their children.
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