Shabir Khan
The footpath union staged a protest in Sopore on Thursday against the administration stating that their livelihood is being snatched away.
Speaking to The Kashmiriyat the protesting roadside vendors said that they are not being allowed to work in the towns, which has affected their livelihood.
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“The Sopore local administration has been acting with an iron fist against the poorer sections of the society, including the Tangwallas, roadside vendors and transporters in a bid to decongest the north Kashmir town,” a protester said.
He said that this action against the poorer working class in Sopore has caused them serious problems and their livelihood has been impacted to a great extent, due to the move of the Sopore admin.
From the past seven months, we have been constantly harassed and disallowed to erect our stalls in the main town of Sopore. “This move against the poorer sections of the society is hardly spoken of, which has made them act stiff and tougher against us,” a protester said.
“Do the poor have no right to earn their livelihood? Are our towns only for the rich?” a protester asked.
Meanwhile, Irfan Ali- a councilor of People’s Democratic Party, from Sopore joined the protestors and asked the admin to immediately intervene and resolve the issue.
Officials upon being contacted by The Kashmiriyat said that the Sopore admin is trying to decongest the town. “There is a huge rush in the market, which causes problems for the traffic movement. We have provided them an alternate space,” the official said.