If Dolly Chaiwala were from Mangaluru, his stall would’ve been demolished: Actor Raj B Shetty
Mangaluru: Actor and director Raj B Shetty has criticised the BJP-led Mangaluru City Corporation’s ‘Tiger Operation’ targeting street vendors. In an Instagram story, he remarked that if Dolly Chaiwala were a street vendor in Mangaluru, his stall too would’ve been demolished.
The statement came after the City Corporation organised a five-day ‘Mangaluru Street Food Fiesta’ near Lady Hill Circle, a location where stalls were previously demolished for causing traffic congestion and encroachments. The irony of holding such an event while evicting local vendors has drawn sharp criticism.
The festival, running from January 18 to 22, featured Dolly Chaiwala from Mumbai as a special participant, sparking protests from activists. On the event’s opening day, the presence of Dolly Chaiwala triggered debates on social media, with many calling out the administration's double standards.
In his Instagram post, Raj B Shetty stated, “Dolly Chaiwala a street tea seller was celebrated in Mangalore. The same city buldozed street food vendors few months ago. Glad that Dolly is not from Mangalore If he was here we would have buldozed.”
Street vendors and activists have criticised the BJP-led administration for prioritising high-profile events over the welfare of local vendors. BK Imtiyaz, honorary president of the street vendors’ association, accused the City Corporation and MLA Vedavyas Kamath of hypocrisy. "They destroyed livelihoods with bulldozers and then hosted an event in violation of their own rules," he said.
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I will do my duty, party will decide the rest: D.K. Shivakumar
Hubballi: Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC President D.K. Shivakumar reaffirmed his commitment to his party, stating that he will perform his duties diligently and leave decisions about his future to the party leadership.
Responding to questions from the media at the Hubballi airport on Tuesday, Shivakumar said, "I will do my duty. The party will decide the rest."
He emphasized his loyalty and dedication to the party’s work, dismissing any personal ambition for positions of power. "I don’t need to go and look for any position. I will do whatever work needs to be done for the party and the government. I am not in a hurry," he added.
