Tribune News Service
Shimla, December 11
CPM leaders today accused the BJP government of giving a free hand to an NGO based in Ambala for collection of Rs500 from each vendor in the city. The party also demanded rehabilitation of all vendors and a probe into the “Khalini parking scam”.
Addressing a press conference here today, CPM district secretary Sanjay Chauhan cited the receipts of payment of Rs500 issued by the Ambala-based –Quality Services and Training Pvt Ltd (Fostag). He cited seven such receipts of payment to the Fostag. Chauhan questioned as to why this NGO was charging Rs500 from each vendor.
Chauhan said the vendors list had not covered many vendors in the city. The previous MC headed by CPM had finalised 598 vendors, but this MC had registered only 168 and the list of 1,065 vendors submitted to the High Court has many loopholes, claimed Chauhan, a former Mayor. Chauhan alleged that the BJP councilor from Khalini ward misbehaved with the MC staff when they tried to check illegal parking being run there. The matter should be probed and the guilty staff should be booked, he demanded.
Meanwhile, CITU activists wearing masks sat on a silent dharna in front of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in protest against the action against them by the MC authorities.
An official in the SMC later said the Fostag was authorised by the food safety and regulatory authority to train vendors on how to keep hygiene and prepare healthy food times. The MC has nothing to do with collection of Rs500 from the vendors, he added.
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