Mussoorie: Street Vendors’ protest continues for 26th day

By Sunil Sonker
Mussoorie, 30 Apr: The agitation led by the ‘Mussoorie Street Vendors and Weaker Sections Welfare Committee’ is steadily intensifying as they demand the reinstatement of street vending stalls on Mall Road, just as they operated in the past. On Tuesday—the 26th day of the protest—street vendors gathered at Mussoorie’s Martyrs’ Memorial to stage a vigorous demonstration against the state government, the local administration, and the Municipal Council.
They also organised a ‘Sadbuddhi Yagna’ to appeal to the government and the municipal administration to take decisions that serve the interests of the poor. A large number of street vendors, Congress leaders, and local residents were present during the event. The protesters declared that, if a positive decision regarding their demands is not taken soon, they will further intensify their agitation. The street vendors alleged that the municipal administration is adopting a “Hitlerian” attitude and is actively working to snatch away the livelihoods of the poor. The vendors noted that while they have been protesting continuously for the past 26 days, no responsible official from the government or administration has yet arrived to address their grievances. They stated that, for years, they have supported their families by setting up small stalls on Mall Road, but now they are being evicted and rendered unemployed. They issued a stern warning that, if their demands continue to be ignored, they will deliver their response during the 2027 Assembly elections.Speaking on the occasion, Congress leader Sonia Anand Rawat took aim at the BJP government and Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi, asserting that, intoxicated by power, the government has completely forgotten the plight of the poor. She alleged that corruption and administrative chaos are on the rise within the state, while the common people remain burdened by inflation and unemployment. She further stated that the BJP government has trifled with both the resources of Uttarakhand and the sentiments of its people. Sonia Rawat remarked that those who once championed the politics of development and public welfare are now facing numerous questions regarding their own tenure—questions to which the public will provide the definitive answer in the times to come.
Congress leader Upendra Thapli stated that the municipal administration is stripping the poor of their livelihoods under political pressure. He alleged that the poor are being evicted at the behest of a Cabinet Minister, while no action is being taken against large-scale illegal construction activities. He warned that the curses of the poor do not bode well for any government; if the BJP government and the municipal administration do not change their attitude, the public will ensure they are ousted from power.Meanwhile, Pramila Rawat, a senior leader of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, remarked that the dreams envisioned at the time of Uttarakhand’s statehood are now appearing to crumble. She noted that the state’s native inhabitants are being forced to struggle for employment and livelihood, while outsiders are being accorded patronage. She alleged that rampant, large-scale illegal construction is proceeding unchecked in Mussoorie; yet, if a poor individual attempts to support their family by setting up a small roadside stall, they are evicted on the grounds of encroachment. She asserted that this discriminatory double standard would not be tolerated under any circumstances.During the protest, street vendors raised vociferous slogans against the government and the municipal administration, demanding that they be permitted to conduct their business at designated spots on Mall Road—as was the practice previously—to ensure the smooth sustenance of their families. Several individuals were present on the occasion, including Amit Gupta, Anuj Gupta, Govind Nautiyal, Ramkishan Rahi, Kamal Bhandari, Sunil Kumar, Pratap Bhandari, Rohit Kumar, Jitendra Gusain, Mohd. Sajid, and Sanjay Tamta.