Hawker union leaders meet police chief demanding action against MNS workers

A delegation of 10 hawkers union leaders led by Congress leader Naseem Khan met Mumbai Commissioner of Police, Datta Padsalgikar on Tuesday afternoon to demand action against the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena workers for allegedly evicting hawkers forcefully.

The delegation submitted a written application to the CP demanding action against the hooliganism of MNS workers who are forcefully evicting the hawkers from roads and vandalising the stalls.

Naseem Khan and the other hawker leaders requested the Mumbai police chief to take action and stop the hooliganism of the MNS workers. A letter given to the police chief stated, "According to the orders of honorable Supreme Court and High Court, those hawkers doing business since May 1, 2014 are all protected. But the MNS workers are violating the orders by evicting them and somehow the police are also becoming part in the violation. The instances in the Western suburbs and eastern suburbs are example of it hence we are requesting you to take action against the violators."

"We are not protecting or standing behind the illegal hawkers, a strict action should be taken against them but the action should be taken by the appropriate authorities and not MNS hooligans. We have met CP Padsalgikar and they have ensured us that they will not allow anyone to take law in their hands and the appropriate action would be taken against the violators and the orders have been given to the register an FIR in cases of forceful eviction," said Naseem Khan.