Over 500 street vendors gathered at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park on Tuesday, protesting what they described as arbitrary and unlawful evictions by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). The demonstration, led by the Karnataka Pragatipara Beedhi Vyaparigala Sangha (affiliated with AICTU), was sparked by recent remarks made by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and drew support from political leaders and civil society groups.
Holding placards reading “Street vendors demand a zero eviction policy” and “Footpaths are for pedestrians and vendors,” protestors accused BBMP of violating the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014.
“We also have a right to live. Don’t we vote, don’t we pay taxes?” asked G Nagaraj, a clothing vendor from Jayanagar. Similar sentiments were echoed by Aarai Krishnamoorthy from Vijayanagar: “I’ve been selling vegetables on this street for 30 years. They can’t just tell me to disappear.”
Though BBMP claims it is acting within the Act’s provisions by restricting vending to designated zones, unions argue that ID card distribution has not even begun and no alternative vending zones have been made functional. “Where are we supposed to go?” asked Mavalli Shankar of the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti.
While BBMP has promised subsidised carts to promote mobile vending, only ice cream carts have passed inspection so far. Discontent remains high, with unions warning of intensified protests if meaningful solutions are not provided.
“We’re not against development,” said vendor Sasikala Nagaraj. “We just want to be included in it — with dignity, infrastructure, and support.”