Street vendors angry with eviction drive by BBMP to enhance Brand Bengaluru

BENGALURU: The Congress government is set to rebuild Brand Bengaluru and has even elicited opinion from the public on the Brand Bengaluru portal. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is also going about evicting street vendors in a bid to beautify the city, but it is being met with resistance.

After suggestions poured in that street vendors in the city should be evicting as they are creating problems, the BBMP has launched an evacuation drive of street vendors. The street vendors are urging the government to make some alternate arrangements for them as their livelihoods are affected.

Suresh, president of the street vendors association, said, “The BBMP has already taken action to evict street vendors and hawkers in all the eight zones. We are not opposed to the ‘Brand Bengaluru’ project, but don’t take away our daily bread; give us the opportunity to lead an independent life. First make arrangements for us before clearing out street vendors”.

He further added that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi held an interaction with street vendors in the run-up to the Assembly polls wherein vendors shared their problems, including police harassment. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar was also present at the interaction.

Opposing the government’s decision of evicting street vendors, Suresh said, “Now, all of a sudden, this kind of action against street vendors, is not right. We urge the government not to take away our livelihood. They should let us live. If our request is ignored, we will plan to hold a protest”.