New Delhi: Hundreds of street vendors and stall owners in Nangal Raya staged a massive protest on Wednesday against the Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s (MCD) decision to relocate the weekly Sunday market from its long-standing site to Khajan Basti. The decision, reportedly taken after a local MLA’s recommendation and resident complaints, has triggered panic among vendors who have depended on this market for their livelihood for over four decades.
The vendors, many of whom have worked in the market for over 40–45 years, claim that the move will destroy their only source of income, especially with the festive season approaching. “We have set up stalls here for generations. Just days before Raksha Bandhan, we’ve stocked up goods by taking loans. Who will buy them now if we’re forced to move?” questioned Prem Prakash, a street vendor, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to intervene.
The Sunday market, which has operated peacefully for decades on the roadside without obstructing traffic, is being targeted unfairly, say vendors. Market president Mahavir Prasad alleged that only a few influential locals, including retired officials and lawyers, have objected, citing false claims about traffic congestion.
“We only occupy 10 feet on either side of a 60-foot road. There is no traffic issue. Even the MCD conducted a videography of the site,” said Subhash Chandra, another vendor, adding that the Khajan Basti location is unsuitable, with no space and poor access.
Vendors also highlighted the broader implications. “This isn’t just about 4,000 vendors. Each of them supports two or three more families. If this market is dismantled, nearly 10,000 workers will be jobless, possibly pushing some toward crime,” warned Ram Prasad Trivedi, a senior vendor.
As emotions ran high, several stall owners pledged not to vacate the site, even saying they’d rather “die here than be displaced”. Many said they had availed loans under the PM SVANidhi scheme to support their micro-businesses and now fear default if the market is shut.
With Raksha Bandhan barely days away, vendors appealed to the Delhi LG, CM Kejriwal, and PM Modi to protect their livelihoods and let the market continue in its current form.
