Police arrested many Kashmiri fruit sellers and confiscated their fruit in Luknow, the capital of the BJP-ruled Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
The action was taken by the Municipal Corporation against Kashmiri youth who were selling dry fruits on the tracks from Samatamulak to Gandhi Setu in the capital. The Corporation with the help of police apprehended the youths and detained them.
Reports suggest that a heated exchange ensued between the Kashmiri youths and the Municipal Corporation team before they were all taken into custody.
A dry fruit seller, Amir from Kashmir, stated that they come to Lucknow every year, however, this year the Municipal Corporation did not permit them to sell here, asserting, ‘”This is wrong; you cannot sell here.”
In response, they pointed out that this rule should apply to everyone, as some vendors continue their work as usual.
He emphasized, “We come here only for two to three months, hoping to earn a livelihood. We have families, and everyone knows the increased unemployment.”
Amir said, “We are only asking to be allowed to work here during these months. We don’t come here for work throughout the year.”
Every time, they confiscate our goods, and the vendors don’t know where they keep them. “We don’t feel like they consider us their own… They desire Kashmir but have no concern for the Kashmiris.”
“Our concern is that if we had resources back home, we wouldn’t need to set up stalls on footpaths here. We plead with them to permit us to set up these stalls,” Amir said.—KMS
