Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Ajay Maken has criticised the ruling party for its inaction towards the promises made to the people of Delhi and increase in corruption. Maken on Thursday claimed there was a steep rise in cases of harassment of hawkers in the national Capital and demanded the AAP Government to “immediately” implement Street Vendors Act passed by the UPA-II over a year ago.
“AAP claims corruption cases had gone down during its previous 49-day tenure. Now, we hear that vendors are being fleeced more than what it used to be earlier. This is because the Act is not being implemented in Delhi,” Maken said.
“Vendors are being harassed. Money is being recovered from them. Police, corporation is fleecing them. We demand that the Act should be implemented immediately in Delhi,” he added.
It may be noted that the Street Vendors (Protection of livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, passed on March 3, 2014 by the UPA Government, allows issuing vending certificates/licences up to a number equivalent to 2.5 per cent of a city’s population. According to the Act, Delhi can accommodate five lakh vendors for its population of around two crore, Maken said.
“Not a single certificate has been issued. Both the Governments (State and Centre) are responsible (for this). We will stage protest if the scheme is not notified within two weeks in Delhi,” Maken said.