Hawkers vent ire at BBMP over eviction at KR Market

BENGALURU: Hawkers at KR Market, who have been conducting business from a long time, vented their ire at the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) after their for tents and stalls were removed without notice on Tuesday.

The hawkers claim they’ve been trading for decades. They said they are not illegal vendors; they have been working here for 30-40 years. The BBMP demolished their shops without serving any notice, leaving them distressed. The vendors urged the BBMP to reconsider its decision as their livelihoods are at stake.

A hawker said that the BBMP gangmen suddenly came and damaged their shops. “We have invested money by taking loans. They have destroyed our shop without any concern. This is the only means for us to earn our daily bread”, he said.

The hawkers allege that the BBMP is keeping them away from the place where they started trading for decades. Even today they are feeling insecure about their property. “The BBMP staff destroyed everything without hesitation, but we will not leave this place”, the hawkers said.

A woman hawker, Raniyamma, said, “I have been working here for so many years. Now the BBMP is telling me to find another place. They are supposed to arrange another plot first before eviction, or they have to at least make alternative arrangements. My family depends on this for our livelihood. But they leveled everything here without providing any alternative. Now where do we have to go?”