MNS ‘exhibits’ menace of hawkers

Clear picture: MNS claims the photos for the exhibition were received from across the city.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Wednesday held an exhibition of photographs it claims to have received from across the city highlighting the menace of hawkers.

Earlier this month, there was an argument between MNS workers and BMC staffers over hawkers near railway stations. MNS members claimed that the BMC’s G South ward office had failed to take action against unauthorised hawkers in Prabhadevi.

Devendrakumar Jain, assistant municipal commissioner, G South ward, alleged that he was threatened by the MNS. Mr. Jain also said that MNS workers stopped the work of a toilet in Prabhadevi in the name of protest. He had even filed a police complaint against MNS member Santosh Dhuri and others. On January 21, 16 assistant municipal commissioners had come down to the G South office to express solidarity.

Following the spat, MNS general secretary Sandeep Deshpande conducted a live chat on Facebook and appealed to people to send in photographs of unauthorised hawkers. The party used #wardofficerchorahe (ward officer is a thief) for the campaign.

“We got an overwhelming response. We received 2,200 pictures, of which we selected 200 and put those up at the exhibition. These are hawkers sitting within 150 metres of railway stations, hospitals and schools despite court orders. All action against hawkers is a sham,” Mr. Deshpande told The Hindu. Senior MNS leader Nitin Sardesai visited the day-long exhibition.