The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) accused the Maharashtra government of neglecting not only illegal hawkers but also other public concerns. The party welcomed the Bombay High Court’s criticism of the government’s lack of action on unauthorized hawkers, emphasizing the need for political accountability.
In a scathing editorial in the party’s mouthpiece, ‘Saamana,’ the Thackeray camp highlighted the High Court’s reprimand of the government for failing to tackle the unauthorized hawker problem effectively. The court’s observations underscored a significant lack of political will in addressing this issue, which has become a widespread grievance across cities in Maharashtra.
The editorial pointed out the systemic failure to address the unauthorized hawker crisis, stressing the authorities’ reluctance to enforce existing laws. It criticized the government, municipal corporations, and police for engaging in a cycle of blame-shifting, leading to a situation where pedestrians are deprived of space due to encroachments.
Questioning the government’s motives, the editorial raised concerns about the administration’s inaction despite judicial scrutiny. It highlighted a pattern of temporary measures that do not address the root cause, attributing this to vested interests that benefit from the status quo. The Shiv Sena called for genuine accountability and proactive steps to resolve the hawker issue and other public grievances.
