Ex CM Uma Bharti protests evictions in MP's Tikamgarh, backs street vendors

Tikamgarh (Madhya Pradesh), April 7 (IANS) Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti has criticised a recent demolition drive in Tikamgarh district, alleging that the municipal action targeted poor street vendors while leaving alleged encroachments by affluent establishments untouched.

In a symbolic protest, Bharti set up a handcart on Civil Line Road on Tuesday morning and sold ‘poha’ and ‘jalebi’. She also called back several small vendors who had been evicted a day earlier, encouraging them to resume their business at the same location.

The protest follows an anti-encroachment drive carried out on Monday by the civic body along with the district administration. During the operation, several roadside shops and handcarts were removed. The drive affected many small traders who depended on daily earnings.

Bharti opposed the action soon after it began, describing it as unjust. On Tuesday morning, she stepped out of her residence on Civil Line Road and went directly to the affected area, where she interacted with vendors and urged them to set up their carts again.

Expressing concern over the incident, Bharti said it was unfortunate that both the Tikamgarh Municipality and the local Assembly constituency are not currently represented by the Bharatiya Janata Party. She suggested that the situation might have been handled differently under the BJP leadership.

She alleged that while the pushcarts of poor vendors were either dismantled or removed, structures belonging to influential individuals continued to remain despite being in violation of norms. “Reforms should begin with those who are better placed and reach the poor last. What happened here is the reverse,” she said.

Bharti, who has been in Tikamgarh for the past few days, said she rushed to the site after learning about the demolition. By the time she arrived, she claimed, the vendors’ carts had already been destroyed and their articles damaged. She described the action as harsh and said it appeared to have been carried out without prior notice or any arrangement for rehabilitation.

According to her, BJP councillors had earlier discussed a plan to identify alternative vending zones, provide basic facilities, issue formal notices, and then relocate the vendors in an orderly manner. She said the sudden eviction went against that understanding, affecting their livelihoods.

Following her intervention, the municipal administration reportedly paused the demolition drive. Bharti said she held discussions with officials and affected vendors. Vendors agreed to maintain cleanliness and avoid obstruction, while the administration indicated that it will look into suitable relocation options.

She highlighted the importance of Civil Line Road, which connects the district hospital and several government offices, noting that any regulatory action must consider both public convenience and the livelihoods of small traders.

Bharti hoped that the issue would be resolved through coordination between local authorities and elected representatives. She said that she had informed the state BJP president Hemant Khandelwal and Chief Minister Mohan Yadav about the developments.