Vendors will be forced to break law: Nirupam

Mumbai: In a sensational speech rendered to a gathering of hawkers in Malad, Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam cautioned the BJP-led Maharashtra government about the tense situation on ground related to hawkers. “If the state government failed to protect hawkers, they do not have the option to take the law into their hands.”

After recent incidents of workers of Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) taking the law into their hands, the hawkers’ issue has cooked into a political hot potato, with Nirupam continuously opposing MNS’ stand and supporting hawkers all over Mumbai. So much so that Nirupam has started meeting hawkers in every corner of the city. On Saturday, he addressed a gathering of hawkers in Malad west and extended his support to them.

Addressing the hawkers, Nirupam said, "The Constitution has given security to hawkers. The UPA government had passed the law. The Maharashtra government must implement the law in the state. We have been following up with the state government and BMC in this regard. However, there is no response from them.”

The Mumbai Congress president went so far as to say that the state government must conduct a survey before implementing the law. “Prior to the survey, form a town vendors’ committee so that the survey will be correct. Also start thinking about allowing land to these people," he said.

About the MNS agitation, Nirupam alleged that MNS and BJP were hand-in-glove on the hawkers’ issue. “They are trying to divide the city with such issues instead of providing it with good infrastructure," he said.