SAD protests ‘goonda raj’ at Sabzi Mandi

Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 20

Led by former legislator and president of the city unit of the SAD Ranjit Singh Dhillon, the activists of the party held a protest against what they termed as ‘goonda raj’ by the contractor and his henchmen entrusted with the collection of daily fee from vendors by the Market Committee.

Alleging that the contractor, having political patronage, was extorting money beyond the stipulated daily fee of Rs 100 from the vendors because he had quoted an unrealistic bid of Rs 8.53 crore (including GST it adds up to more than Rs 10.06 crore) per annum for collection of fee against the reserve price of Rs 4.74 crore, Dhillon said the contractor and his henchmen had let loose the reign of terror against “phariwalas” and other vendors.

“The vendors are being terrorised and their association, formed to raise voice against highhandedness of the contractor, has been forcibly disbanded. The scared vendors are made to pay more and even those occupying space beyond the area entrusted to the contractor, are made to pay daily fee,” said Dhillon.

He said according to data available with the Mandi Board, there were not more than 1,200 vendors in Sabzi Mandi and even if the number is taken at 1,500, the stipulated daily fee of Rs 100 would not fetch more than Rs 5.50 crore. “In such circumstances, the contractor will have to extort money from poor vendors to cover his deficit, and unfortunately, the officials and even the police seem to be hand in glove with the contractor in his misdeeds,” he added.

Raising anti-government slogans, the SAD workers demanded that effective steps be taken to restore rule of law in Sabzi Mandi and unrealistic contract for collection of fee from vendors be cancelled forthwith. They also called for action against officials of Mandi Board for overlooking the interests of vendors and accepting an exorbitant bid which was bound to adversely affect them.

Dhillon said a formal complaint about highhandedness and “goonda raj” by the contractor and his henchmen had been lodged with the Commissioner of Police and its copies have also been sent to the Chief Minister, the Director General of Police, the ADGP of Vigilance Bureau, the Deputy Commissioner, the Punjab Human Rights Commission and the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court.

MLA Talwar forms 5-member panel

Meanwhile, Congress legislator from Ludhiana East Sanjay Talwar held a meeting with affected vendors and shopkeepers of Sabzi Mandi, where officials of the Market Committee were also present. 

After listening to the complaints of the vendors, who levelled charges of extortion and highhandedness against the contractor, Talwar directed the Market Committee officials to put up display boards with the stipulated fee payable by vendors and also put up such boards, where area allotted to the contractor for recovery of fee should be clearly depicted. 

Talwar set up a five-member committee which would hold a meeting with the affected vendors in the Market Committee on Tuesday in the presence of the contractor (or his representatives), Municipal Corporation officials and police officials.

Dhillon relates figures

President of the city unit of SAD Ranjit Singh Dhillon said according to data available with the Mandi Board, there are not more than 1,200 vendors in Sabzi Mandi and even if the number is taken at 1,500, the stipulated daily fee of Rs 100 would not fetch more than Rs 5.50 crore. The contractor had quoted an unrealistic bid of Rs 8.53 crore (including GST, it adds up to more than Rs 10.06 crore) per annum for collection of fee against the reserve price of Rs 4.74 crore,