Shillong July 3: A prominent association of hawkers and street vendors of Shillong have threatened to take legal course against cabinet minister Paul Lyngdoh for allegedly defaming the association leaders over the issue of relocation of hawkers of Khyndailad.
The Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers’ and Street Vendors’ Association (MGSPHSVA) demanded the minister to substantiate his allegation that the association leaders had deliberately obstructed relocation of hawkers.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the association’s general secretary Shane Thabah said, “We urge the minister to substantiate his allegations against the association, else we will be forced to take legal remedies against him.”
The association also accused of Lyngdoh of failing to do anything during his tenure as urban affairs minister, Thabah said, “…t is shameful especially given that he was also once an urban affairs minister, who never thought of or did anything about this issue.”
The association claimed that it was instrumental in ensuring the adoption of the central law on hawking in Meghalaya after a seven-year court battle.
Thabah said the government has delayed the implementation of the law and is now trying to subvert its proper and transparent implementation.
The association, meanwhile, objected to haphazard issuing of licenses to non-genuine hawkers, denial of licenses to genuine hawkers, and recent evictions that were illegal.
Thabah, meanwhile, said the association had agreed to a phased manner of issuing Certificate of Vending (CoV), but never agreed to any deadline for relocation to the designated vending zone.
The government has issued a deadline of July 22 to the hawkers to vacate from roadside areas in Khyndailad.
Thabah also claimed that the government’s claims about the number of vendors surveyed and eligible for licenses are also false and misleading.
“Furthermore, it is also a blatant lie that ‘relocation infrastructure’ is in place,” he added.
Thabah said that discussions in the PTVC are still ongoing as also the government support pledged towards the hawkers during relocation.
