Congress leaders back street vendors in Karnal

Congress leaders and workers along with representatives of various social organisations came out in support of street vendors whose stalls were removed by the Karnal Municipal Corporation (KMC) on second consecutive Sunday as part of its ongoing anti-encroachment drive. The removal of these vendors from Karna Gate market, particularly those who set up stalls for the weekly Sunday market, sparked widespread anger among the local community.

In a show of solidarity, the Congress leaders visited various areas of the market and met the vendors, assuring them that they would raise the issue with the MC and district authorities. They interacted with small vendors whose livelihoods had been severely impacted. The vendors expressed frustration over their goods being seized and their stalls being removed, saying that they relied on their small business for survival.

Congress leader Manoj Wadhwa, along with others, criticised the selective action of the MC, alleging that while the poor vendors were targeted while no action was taken against the shopkeepers, who were also guilty of encroachment and had flouted norms but no action was taken against them.

At one point, the protesters reached outside a prominent jewellery showroom, where they questioned why a large signboard violating norms was still intact. The issue escalated until the shop owner arrived and agreed to remove the board, calming the protesters.

Congress leader Parag Gaba demanded that the administration should either stop removing these vendors or, if necessary, provide them with a designated and fair space to continue the Sunday market, possibly behind the yellow lines marked on the streets.

“Action should be equal for all,” said Gurvinder Kaur, another Congress leader, emphasising the need for justice and fair opportunity for the underprivileged.

Traders call for removal