As BJP hoardings dot Hisar town, activists seek action

Hisar-based activists staged a protest on Monday against the display of ‘illegal’ hoardings and flex banners dotting the town. They submitted a complaint to the state authorities regarding ‘unauthorised’ hoardings in the town and attached many photographs of the hoardings of the BJP, many of which displayed state president Mohan Lal Badoli, Hisar Mayor Praveen Popli and other BJP leaders praising the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for cut in the GST.

The activists objected to these advertisements and raised slogans alleging the administration’s double standards in dealing. One of the complainant activist Rajiv Sardana, alleged that they had dared the Mayor to join an open debate on the GST cut with them.

They also pasted small posters with slogans saying that injustice with the street vendors, “One nation, two laws will not be tolerated,” “Mayor Sahib’s hoarding, injustice on the streets,” etc on these hoardings.

The activists pointed out that ordinary shopkeepers, street vendors, and small traders often faced strict action for minor violations, whereas politically protected illegal hoardings continued to go unaddressed and termed it a glaring injustice.

The protesters also challenged Hisar Municipal Council Mayor Praveen Popli to a public debate on alleged irregularities in GST categorisation. They said that the Mayor should present his case openly. “If he avoids a debate on the GST cut, it will be perceived as propaganda intended to mislead the citizens,” said Sardana, adding that the Mayor was acting more as a party functionary than a representative of the municipal corporation.

The activists warned that if the administration failed to take action against illegal hoardings they would intensify protests in the coming days. They alleged that the Mayor should not evade accountability on the issue.

In their complaint they urged the state authorities to remove all unauthorised hoardings immediately, take strict action against officials and political figures who were involved in such violations and called for uniform and strict appliance and compliance of the municipal regulations.

The activists said if these demands were not addressed promptly, the civil society would be compelled to intensify protests and mobilise public opposition.

The activists include Rajiv Sardana, Jitender Bhardwaj, Ashish Jain, Anuj Ghanghas, Anu Sura, Charan Veer, Prashant Kumar, Rajendra Yadav, and several others.

When contacted, Mayor Praveen Popli’s staff member who picked up his phone said that he was busy with an event. However, he assured that he would get back with the the Mayor’s version.