SMC closes market; vendors claim no prior notice

Srinagar, Sep 3 (PTI) Authorities have closed a recentlyopened market meant to rehabilitate street vendors in theheart of the city here, with the hawkers alleging that theywere not given any prior notice. Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, president of the Street VendorsAssociation, alleged that the action was taken out of vendettaas they had refused to open the market during the unrest, acharge rejected by ruling PDP MLA Altaf Bukhari who claimedthat the hawkers were raising illegal structures. Makkah market opened in May this year after the stategovernment allotted space at SRTC yard near the famous GhantaGhar (clock tower) here to rehabilitate street vendors wasclosed by police and officials from Srinagar MunicipalCorporation (SMC) yesterday. The vendors claimed no notice was served to them by theauthorities to vacate the space. "We were not told anything. No notice was served. We werehome due to the strike when some of our friends informed us ofthe action by police. They closed the market," Bhat said. He also questioned the motive behind the step. "Some weeks ago police asked me to open the market but Irefused. It is because of my refusal to toe their line theyare doing this. This is sheer vendetta," he said. However, Bukhari who is a former minister rubbished theallegations, saying the vendors were trying to raise "illegalstructures" which will not be allowed at any cost. "… They are not supposed to raise any sheds there. Thisaction was against that," Bukhari told PTI. The former minister said the police did not take anygoods from the market as they were no items there because ofthe strike since the last about two months. "There were only beds. There has been a strike sinceabout two months, the market has been closed. They are lying,"he said on allegations by hawkers that their goods were takenaway. Normal life remained paralysed for the 57th day in theValley since Hizbul Mujahideen militant was killed in anencounter in south Kashmir on July 8. On vendors being "pressurised" to open their stallsduring strike, Bukhari said no one would pressure any one toopen their business in these circumstances. "However, why were they not opening their stalls duringthe relaxation time. What were they busy in?," he questioned. The PDP leader said Bhat is a worker of the party and heshould have taken his grievances to the party office. "Also, I am always available to them and I can take themto meet the chief minister for any grievance," he added. PTISSB MIJ RCJ RTRCJ