BJP MLA Sells Vegetables to Protest Market Shutdown in Ghaziabad
In a unique and creative protest, Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Ghaziabad’s Loni, Nand Kishor Gurjar, opened a vegetable shop at a roadside to demonstrate against the Ghaziabad Police’s decision to shut down weekly markets across the district. The decision, taken to ease congestion in the area, has left thousands of people in the region who depend on these markets for their livelihood, in a state of panic.
Gurjar, who has been a vocal critic of the authorities, decided to take matters into his own hands and set up a makeshift vegetable shop on the roadside to highlight the plight of the people who rely on these markets for their daily income. In the video of the protest that has gone viral on social media, Gurjar can be seen arranging vegetables and fruits on a cart, interacting with customers, and even helping them carry their purchases.
In an interview with News18, Gurjar stated that over one lakh people in Loni depend on these weekly markets for their income. “These people are not beggars, they are hardworking individuals who have been running their businesses for generations. Shutting down these markets will only lead to more unemployment and poverty in the area,” he said.
Gurjar further added that the police’s decision is short-sighted and will only lead to more problems in the long run. “The police claims that the decision was taken to ease congestion in the area, but I think it’s a wrong approach. If they had engaged with the people and listened to their concerns, they could have found a more sustainable solution to the problem,” he said.
The weekly markets in Ghaziabad’s Loni district are a major source of income for thousands of people who sell everything from fresh produce to handicrafts. The markets are a key part of the local economy and are a vital source of income for many families. Gurjar’s protest is seen as a desperate attempt to draw attention to the plight of these people and to put pressure on the authorities to reconsider their decision.
The police, however, has maintained that the decision to shut down the weekly markets was necessary to ease congestion in the area. “The markets were causing a lot of traffic congestion and chaos in the area. We had to take this decision to ensure the safety and well-being of the people,” a police officer said in a statement.
Gurjar’s protest has sparked a debate on social media, with many people lending their support to his cause. “This is the kind of leadership we need in our country. A leader who is willing to take a stand for the people and not just for his own interests,” wrote one Twitter user.
Another user wrote, “I think it’s great that the MLA is taking a stand against the police’s decision. The people of Loni deserve better and it’s time we stood up for their rights.”
The protest by Gurjar has also drawn attention to the plight of the vendors who depend on the weekly markets for their livelihood. Many of them are struggling to make ends meet and are worried about the future.
“We are facing a lot of difficulties since the markets were shut down. We have no other way to earn a living and are struggling to feed our families,” said one vendor who did not want to be named.
Gurjar’s protest is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by many people in India who are struggling to make a living. It is also a testament to the power of public protest and the importance of standing up for what is right.
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