Will Shiv Sena lead hawkers targeted by Raj Thackeray's MNS?
A few hawker organisations have unofficially started a wing called the Mumbai Ferivala Sena, but Shiv Sena leaders say the party hasn't officially floated any such organisation.
Mumbai hawkers who are being targeted by Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) are looking for strong leadership. The Congress is supporting them, but a few voices want a party like the Shiv Sena to lead them to directly confront the MNS.
A few hawker organisations have unofficially started a wing called the Mumbai Ferivala Sena, but Shiv Sena leaders say the party hasn't officially floated any such organisation.
"Yes there is (a) demand that Bhartiya Kamgar Sena (the party's workers' wing) should start (a) hawkers' association or lead them, but we haven't got any clearance from our party chief Uddhav Thackeray," said BKS president Suryakant Mahadik.
"No one has officially contacted me and if someone contacts us, our party chief Uddhav Thackeray will take (a) final decision on this," Mahadik said.
MUMBAI FERIVALA SENA RALLY
On Sunday, the 'Mumbai Ferivala Sena' held a small rally to unite Marathi and non-Marathi hawkers. They printed the Shiv Sena symbol and the names of Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackery, Uddhav Thackeray, and Shiv Sena MLA Suresh Prabhu on a pamphlet.
They mentioned on the pamphlet that they were yet to officially convey this to the Shiv Sena.
India Today tried to contact Ashok Dehere, a BMC Hawkers Committee member who leads this organisation, but there was no response from him.
The Bombay High Court recently ruled that hawking would be permitted only in designated zones, and wouldn't be allowed on foot over-bridges and rail over-bridges within 150 metres of railway stations.
STREET PLAY
The MNS organised a street play in Dadar today to explain why the hawkers issue was serious, and how the common man is troubled by them.
After the Elphinstone Road station stampede, the MNS has been attacking hawkers in the vicinity of railway stations. This comes after MNS chief Raj Thackeray's protest march, and his warning to the railway administration that his workers would evict hawkers MNS-style if they didn't clear access to stations in 15 days.
"If Shiv Sena is going to support the hawkers, then we want to ask them...why they were silent on this issue and...(did not do) anything for hawkers in (the) last 25 years. It is nothing but (a) political stunt of Shiv Sena," said MNS leader Yashvant Killedar.
WATCH | Mumbai: MNS workers clash with hawkers in Malad