New market plan sparks protest

New market plan sparks protest
DH News Service, Bangalore:
The Jayanagar traders on Sunday vented out their ire before Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa when the latter announced the vegetable market at the shopping complex would be razed and a new one constructed in its place.

When the chief minister and senior BJP leaders visited the vegetable market which was gutted in Friday’s fire mishap, police prevented the traders from entering the market along with the CM. Later, Yeddyurappa said the old building will be razed and a new one constructed.

At this moment, traders demanded that the complex be retained. But, the chief minister said the government has taken the decision considering the public safety in mind. “That will be the last option before us. An expert committee will check whether the building is safe for use, because there are apprehensions that the steel used for the building might have melted. We will try to repair the existing building. If that is not advisable, we need to construct a new one,” he said.

Yeddyurappa assured the traders they will be handed over the shops at the same place where they carried out their business. “You need not pay a single paise as bribe to any official or influential person,” he said.

He directed the BBMP officials to construct the building at the earliest and hand it over to the traders.

Tight security
There was tight security cover when the chief minister visited the spot. The police had sealed all entry points to prevent people from following him. Though several traders tried to sneak in, the police prevented them. When Yeddyurappa was about to leave, the situation seemed to go out of control as the angry traders tried to push themselves to talk to the chief minister