VENDORS ISSUE IN CHARMINAR TAKES COMMUNAL TURN

The Charminar Pedestriation Project in the Old City appeared to be taking a communal course with the ‘displaced’ pushcart vendors and jewellery shop owners roping in different political parties and splitting on religious lines.

The GHMC and the traffic police evicted the pushcart vendors from the vicinity of the Charminar monument and asked them to conduct their business on the stretch between Charminar Kaman and Gulzar Houz. Unhappy with this, the vendors, who were reportedly supported by a few Congress leaders, staged a protest on Wednesday morning. They wanted authorities to provide them a proper place to conduct business, as the one allocated was insufficient. Soon, the delegation rushed to the AIMIM headquarters.

Jewellery shops owners complained of losing their business because of the presence of traders and were now roping in the BJP leadership to express their concerns. A delegation of the leaders met BJP Goshamahal legislator T. Raja Singh and sought his intervention.

Police on the other hand were apprehensive as the project appeared to be taking a communal turn with traders splitting on religious lines. DCP (south) V. Satyanarayana said the police were keeping a close watch on the developments. “Our priority is to ensure a peaceful solution to the issue. Nevertheless, we will deal strictly with those trying to communalise the project,” he said. As a preventive measure, police posted pickets in the area to prevent any clash between the shop owners and pushcart traders.