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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Eleven cadres of several banned outfits in Manipur held
Imphal (PTI): Eleven people belonging to various banned outfits were arrested from Manipur's Imphal East, Kakching, and Thoubal districts, police said on Tuesday.
All these arrests were made on Monday, a senior officer said.
Four cadres of the proscribed Kangleipak Communist Party (PWG) were apprehended from Mantripukhri French Colony in Imphal East district, he said.
They were involved in "threatening the general public by placing hand grenades at different locations in the valley area", a police statement said.
Two pistols with two magazines and ammunition were recovered from their possession.
In a separate operation, security forces also arrested three active members of the same outfit from Keirao Wangkhem and its adjoining area in Imphal East district, the officer said.
Five firearms, ammunition and a wireless communication device were seized from their possession, he said.
A member of the proscribed Peoples Liberation Army was arrested from Sawombung Kabui Khunjao in Imphal East district for allegedly being involved in extortion activities, police said.
"Two pistols, one hand grenade and a detonator were recovered from his possession," the officer said.
Two active cadres of the banned KCP (Apunba) were arrested from an abandoned house in Wangjing Awang Leikai in Thoubal district, as they were involved in extortion, a local police officer said.
The police apprehended a cadre of the outlawed KCP (Taibanganba) from Angang Ching crossing in Kakching district, he said.
Security forces have been conducting search operations in Manipur since ethnic violence broke out two years ago.
More than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023.
The Centre had on February 13 imposed the President's rule in Manipur after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned.
The state assembly, which has a tenure till 2027, has been put under suspended animation.
