Jammu, 2 August (H.S.): Shopkeepers in different market areas of the Jammu district today erupted in protests over Jammu Municipal Corporation’s anti-encroachment drives, terming them unjustified.
As the JMC staff, assisted by police teams, started removing the goods kept outside the shops on cots and other similar arrangements by the shopkeepers in view of the festive season, the angry shopkeepers gathered at Bharat Mata Chowk (City Chowk) and resorted to sloganeering against the municipal staff.
They claimed that JMC has been repeatedly harassing them in the name of anti-encroachment drives.
Click here to watch video
“Sometimes, their staff members come on bikes, click photos of the shops, and then stick notices outside the shops in the dark like thieves,” one of the protestors said.
Another agitating shopkeeper said the behaviour of the JMC staff is quite unbearable as they don’t even believe in consultation with the shopkeepers before resorting to such drives.
“We’re ready to cooperate with the JMC management to ensure de-congestion of the city roads, but things are settled in meetings, not through such random drives, instilling panic among the shopkeepers,” he said.
Another shopkeeper blamed the JMC teams of deliberately harassing the shopkeepers nearing festive season.
Later, the agitating shopkeepers were joined by BJP senior leader and MLA Jammu East, Yudhvir Sethi, at Purani Mandi, who came out strongly in their support and criticized the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) for what he termed an “unplanned” and “harsh anti-encroachment drive”.
Speaking to the media persons, Sethi condemned the timing and manner of the operation, especially during the ongoing festive season.
He said such sudden crackdowns without consultation with local market representatives amount to harassment of small traders and create an atmosphere of fear. “Jammu is my city and I will not allow its heritage markets to be targeted during Hindu festivals,” he asserted.
He further stated that JMC officials must act with sensitivity and accountability.
Any future action, he said, should be conducted only after taking the Bazaar Association President and elected representatives into confidence.
Traders welcomed his intervention, calling it timely and reassuring.
---------------
Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar
