The move drew the ire of the opposition parties, which slammed the AAP-led government in the state, saying the ban would render thousands jobless. Those who run ‘jugad rehris’ also condemned the state government’s decision and questioned how they would earn their livelihood.
Scores of people across the state run ‘jugad rehris’ for selling fruit, vegetables, transporting items such as cement, sand, electronic goods and sometimes, passengers too.
Senior vice president of Shiromani Akali Dal Daljit Singh Cheema, in a statement released on Saturday, said the ban has come as a shock for thousands of people.
“Such persons were selling vegetables, carrying waste in cities and were using such facilities, created by themselves, for transporting various things from one place to another,” he said.
Mere issuing of an order without studying the ground reality is not a sign of healthy governance, Cheema said, adding that while ordering the ban, the Mann-led government should have devised some other alternative through which those running ‘jugad rehris’ could earn their livelihood.
Congress leader and MLA Sukhpal Khaira, too, called it a “bad decision” and said the AAP, which claims to represent ordinary and poor people, has “inflicted havoc” on the poorest of the poor and the move will affect the lives of one lakh families.
“The argument given by @BhagwantMann govt to ban these “Engine Rehra’s”of poor vendors that they cause road accidents is illogical as most accidents are caused as there’s no rule of law or fear of law neither policing on roads besides stray animals,drunken driving etc! Bad decision,” said Khaira in a tweet.
