MAPUSA
The ruling BJP council in Mapusa municipality appears to have landed itself in trouble after a group of vendors and some ex-councillors alleged that some ruling councillors were demanding monies from vendors to carry on business in the municipal market.
The vendors claimed that some individuals on behalf of the councillors were collecting protection money from them.
According to some ex-councillors at least three councillors from the ruling group “ two first-time councillors and one senior councillor “ were involved in collecting money from the vendors in the market.
“A person has been tasked with the job of collecting Rs 1,000 per month from each and every vendor in the market,” a vendor informed, requesting anonymity for fear of retribution.
The modus operandi is simple. The vendors are warned that if they refuse to pay up then they will be evicted from the spot and someone else will be given an opportunity to do business in the area.
“We have no choice. This is our only source of income. If we don’t pay up we will have to sleep on an empty stomach,” said another vendor.
There are around 1,200 vendors in the Mapusa municipal market.
Besides, monies have been extorted from some wholesale vendors too in a one-time settlement deal to allow them to carry on with their business without obstruction.
Similarly, new vendors are being allotted space in the market for a price.
Sources in the municipality informed that this was happening in the past too but this time the demand has gone a notch up and the new batch of councillors are an aggressive lot to rake in the moolah through illegal means.
“The municipal market has become a gold mine in Mapusa for the ruling councillors,” said an ex-councillor.
But the Mapusa chairperson, Shubhangi Vaigankar denied all the allegations and stood by her councillors.
“These allegations are part of a conspiracy to frame me and the ruling council,” Vaigankar said on Sunday. “There is no truth in the allegations being raised. No one has taken a rupee from anyone in the market,” she added.
The chairperson also said that she had information that in the earlier councils such activity was taking place and the names of those involved is known to all.
Repeated calls made to Mapusa market chairperson Viraj Phadke went unanswered. He also did not respond to messages sent on his WhatsApp.
