TEAM HERALD
PONDA: Ponda market vendors have resolved to intensify their agitation, even as Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) market inspectors complained to the police that seven vendors obstructed them while they were assisting in Sopo tax collection in the market.
In a meeting on Friday, the vendors have decided to remain united and said they are not ready to agitate during the Ganesh festival, but they are forced by the situation. They said they have lost their patience by peaceful agitation and as a final step decided not to tolerate harassment, but to intensify the agitation if harassment is continued by PMC.
Leader of the vendors Kishore Mamlekar said: “We had invited PMC councillors to discuss the Sopo issue at 3 pm on Friday at the meeting with the vendors, but none of the councillors turned up at the market. Instead, PMC sent some market inspector in the market to remove some vendors from the market, creating tension in the market,” added Mamlekar.
“We are ready to sit and discuss the Sopo issue at any time with the council or the ministers to get the issue resolved, but it seems that PMC has no interest despite several complaints against Sopo tax,” he stated.
Meanwhile, market inspectors Mahadev Naik, Krishna Naik and Arun Naik complained to Ponda police that they were obstructed by seven vendors while they were assisting to collect Sopo tax. The vendors also filed complaints against the market inspectors for harassing them.
