Jammu: The ongoing issue of shopkeepers in Nai Basti took center stage in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly (JKLA) as MLAs Vikram Randhawa and Narender Singh Raina staged a protest, walking to the well of the House in support of the affected traders.
The shopkeepers, who are facing eviction due to road-widening and flyover construction projects, have expressed strong opposition to the administration’s decision. According to the protesting MLAs, the traders were assured that they would be rehabilitated before any demolition took place. However, despite these assurances, they claim that notices have been issued without adequate resettlement plans, forcing them onto the streets.
“The administration had promised rehabilitation before eviction. But now, they are being forced out without proper arrangements. Seven days’ notice has been given, and if no solution is provided, the shopkeepers will be left with no choice but to protest on the streets,” MLA Randhawa stated in the Assembly.
MLA Raina further emphasized that many families depend on these shops for their livelihood. “This is not just about shops; it is about the survival of families. If they are evicted without rehabilitation, it will create a major crisis,” he added.
The shopkeepers have urged the government to intervene and ensure that they are provided with alternative spaces before any demolition takes place. With tensions escalating, political leaders and business associations are rallying behind the traders, calling for a fair and just resolution to the crisis.
