Kolkata RG Kar rape-murder: Hawkers plan counter-rally against street protests

KOLKATA: Hawkers who sell their wares from pavements and street corners around the city are planning to take out rallies demanding 'justice' and protection of their livelihood, claiming their business has been hit because of continuous disruptions from rallies demanding justice for the RG Kar rape-murder victim.

Sources said there were plans to organise rallies from the city's hawking hubs. Unions in Gariahat and Behala will hold rallies early next week; those from Hatibagan and New Market may follow.

Debraj Ghosh, a leader of a hawkers' union in Gariahat, said there was no option but to hit the streets to attract the attention of cops and the state administration. Most hawkers had been hard hit by the dip in business ahead of Duga Puja, with hawking hubs blocked by rallyists, especially during the weekends, when business is usually high, he added.

Ghosh clarified that he also wanted justice for the rape-murder victim. "But our livelihood is at stake because of the protests, which have entered the fifth week at a time puja shopping usually peaks," he said. "This has compelled us to take out a rally."

‘Will hold rally to highlight biz losses’

Debraj Ghosh, a hawker union leader in Gariahat, said vendors had been struggling to make ends meet ahead of the festive season. “Hawkers selling ready- made clothes invested Rs 15 lakh in July, hoping to make a decent profit ahead of Durga Puja,” he said.

Saktipada Mondal, union leader and a Town Vending Committee member, said Behala hawkers planned a rally on Monday with similar demands. Hatibagan and New Market are yet to touch even 40% of puja shopping footfall. “The scene is bleak,” said Prabhat Das, a member of Shyambazar-Hatibagan Hawkers’ Union. “Hawkers and traders at Hatibagan are bearing the maximum brunt due its proximity to Shyambazar, the epicentre of protests. People are scared to visit the market, lest they get caught in a chaotic situation. Durga Puja is three weeks away. If the scene does not improve immediately, we will hold a rally to high- light how our business is getting hampered owing to the RG Kar stalemate.”

New Market hawking zone, another major crossing witnessing a large number of RG Kar demonstrations, has also been majorly affected. Asit Saha, West Bengal Hawkers’ Joint Action Committee president, said, “New Market hawkers are counting losses this puja season. The situation needs to be resolved, as it is dealing a heavy blow to hawkers who are planning to take out a rally.” Saha said hawkers were ready to take out a rally as sales in the New Market area had dropped by 50%.
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