National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI), a federation of street vendor organisations, has accused police and civic authorities of launching a fresh backlash against street vendors by confiscating their goods and damaging their carts.
According to NASVI, MCD officials launched an eviction drive of street vendors in Harkesh Nagar Sabzi Mandi area in Okhla area after vendors refused to pay extortion money. It also alleged that the police arrested seven street vendors and slapped non-bailable charges against them. ‘Many carts were damaged, goods were confiscated, hard earned money was forcibly taken, vendors were beaten up and women vendors were abused,’ read a statement from NASVI.
It has also sent a memorandum to union home ministry requesting the home minister to instruct the Delhi police to stop the atrocities. Thousands of street vendors also marched towards the residence of Sonia Gandhi and asked her to intervene in the matter.
The NASVI has also stated that the bill has sent ‘shock waves’ to police and civic officials and therefore, they have launched a backlash against street vendors.
According to NASVI, MCD officials launched an eviction drive of street vendors in Harkesh Nagar Sabzi Mandi area in Okhla area after vendors refused to pay extortion money. It also alleged that the police arrested seven street vendors and slapped non-bailable charges against them. ‘Many carts were damaged, goods were confiscated, hard earned money was forcibly taken, vendors were beaten up and women vendors were abused,’ read a statement from NASVI.
It has also sent a memorandum to union home ministry requesting the home minister to instruct the Delhi police to stop the atrocities. Thousands of street vendors also marched towards the residence of Sonia Gandhi and asked her to intervene in the matter.
The NASVI has also stated that the bill has sent ‘shock waves’ to police and civic officials and therefore, they have launched a backlash against street vendors.