'MNS workers should be ready to face retaliation from hawkers'

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers, who have been forcefully driving away hawkers from near railway station areas of the city, should be ready to face retaliation from these vendors, Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam said today.
MNS has adopted an aggressive stance against hawkers occupying railway station premises after the Elphinstone Road railway station stampede that claimed 23 lives and its workers have been driving away illegal vendors since October 15.
"The MNS may have domination in some pockets where it can target the hawkers due to a strong cadre base but the party workers should be ready for retaliation, at other places where the hawkers are united," Nirupam said.

"There has been a strong bias of police department when it comes to taking action against me and MNS workers," Nirupam alleged.
Some MNS workers, including a Malad based leader, were severely beaten up by local hawkers outside Malad railway station yesterday.
The MNS workers then rushed to Malad by evening and attacked the hawkers.

Nirupam also went there to extend his support to the hawkers, claiming that MNS has no right to be aggressive against them
A police case has been registered against Nirupam for holding a rally without permission.
Speaking to reporters today the Mumbai unit chief said, "Illegal hawkers issue is a global problem and not confined to Mumbai city alone. A lot of bribe is being paid to continue to do business as illegal hawkers and some MNS leaders are also involved in it."

"I have demanded several times that the hawkers should get proper license to operate, but no one is keen on solving the issue," he claimed.