Mangaluru: The 24-hour protest by street vendors, demanding unrestricted access to the Sunday Bazaar and the fulfillment of various other demands, concluded on Friday, after an intensified demonstration at the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) office.Frustrated by the absence of the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) commissioner, who failed to visit the protest site or accept their memorandum, the street vendors marched from the MCC main gate to the office of the MCC administrator and picketed it.Police intervened and facilitated a meeting between the protesters and additional deputy commissioner K Raju. The Additional DC accepted the memorandum and assured the vendors that he would bring their grievances to the immediate attention of the deputy commissioner for resolution.BK Imthiyaz, honorary president of the Dakshina Kannada Street Vendors’ Association, said that Sunday Bazaar vendors have been struggling and suffering losses for the past month due to the lack of trading opportunities. “If the Commissioner conducts an operation to clear the Sunday Bazaar next week without providing an alternative, we will launch a ‘Jail Bharo’ movement,” he warned.Sunil Kumar Bajal, executive president of the association, urged the MCC officials to act in accordance with the law. The leaders demanded that the authorities maintain the status quo until a suitable alternative arrangement is provided for the vendors.The protesters included several prominent leaders and activists, such as Yashwant Maroli, president of the All India Lawyers’ Union, Yadav Shetty, Krishnappa Salian, Shekar Kundar, and leaders from CITU, Janavadi Mahila Sanghatane, and DYFI, along with numerous street vendor representatives.
