Shimla, Sept 10,
The Himachal Pradesh Assembly is set to finalize a vendor policy aimed at regulating street vendors in Shimla and across the state.
This decision comes after a point of order was raised by Harish Janartha, who highlighted the increasing tensions surrounding street vendors and a recent scuffle between two groups in the town.
In response, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced the formation of an inter-ministerial committee to draft the vendor policy. He emphasized that strict action would be taken to maintain law and order, warning that no one would be allowed to take the law into their own hands.
He also mentioned that the previous street vendor policy, formulated by the former BJP government, would be considered during the decision-making process.
The Chief Minister assured the Assembly that the committee would be formed by the end of the day and invited BJP MLAs to participate if they wished. He reiterated that the Vidhan Sabha committee on street vendors would be established soon, with members nominated by the Speaker.
The Speaker, Kuldeep Singh Pathania, supported the formation of the committee and emphasized that law and order must not be compromised.
Earlier, Harish Janartha had raised concerns about the escalating situation, citing the construction of a mosque and the growing unrest between groups in the town.
He warned that a protest had been called for the next day, which could further exacerbate the situation. Janartha stressed the need for a vendor policy to protect the interests of local residents, as the influx of outsiders was creating tension.
Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur criticized the Chief Minister, accusing him of not taking the issue seriously.
He pointed out that a previous statement by the Chief Minister, mentioning that 97 percent of the state’s population is Hindu, had contributed to the unrest. Thakur argued that the protests were spontaneous and not politically motivated.
Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh supported the creation of a vendor policy, stating that genuine vendors should be issued licenses to avoid any communal tensions. He also condemned the circulation of inflammatory posts on social media, which he said were adding fuel to the fire.
The Speaker concluded the discussion by reiterating his commitment to appointing the panel and ensuring that the House’s decision would be implemented promptly.
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