Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Karjol likens Bengaluru vendor evictions to Turkman Gate demolitions
In Bengaluru, a big city in India, the government is clearing sidewalks so people can walk safely.
Many street sellers who work on those sidewalks are being asked to leave.
The government says it wants to protect pedestrians, because almost 300 people get hurt every year while walking on roads.
But a leader named Govind Karjol says the sellers are being treated badly.
He compared what is happening to something sad that happened in Delhi long ago in 1976.
At that time, many houses were torn down and families lost their homes.
Karjol says over two lakh families of sellers are now in trouble.
He also talked about a government plan that gives small loans to street sellers to help them.
Some people agree with the government, and some think sellers should be helped more.
BJP MP and former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Govind Karjol condemned the eviction of street vendors by the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) under the 'Safe Footpath Campaign', comparing it to the 1976 Turkman Gate demolitions.
The Karnataka government launched the 'Safe Footpath Campaign' on July 1 to remove footpath encroachments, citing Supreme Court directions and repeated demands from Bengaluru residents.
Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said nearly 300 pedestrians die in road accidents every year after being forced to walk on roads due to encroached footpaths.
Karjol claimed around 2.5 lakh street vendor families have been pushed into distress and about 10 lakh people stand to lose their livelihoods.
Karjol praised the PM SVANidhi scheme, saying over 75 lakh street vendors nationwide have received loans worth more than Rs 17,800 crore, with nearly 60 per cent of beneficiaries being women.
- Who
- BJP MP and former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Govind Karjol, the Karnataka government and the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), and street vendors in Bengaluru
- What
- Eviction of street vendors under the 'Safe Footpath Campaign' to remove footpath encroachments, which Karjol condemned and compared to the 1976 Turkman Gate demolitions
- When
- The campaign was launched on July 1; Karjol made his comments on Thursday
- Where
- Bengaluru, Karnataka; Karjol spoke to the media in Delhi
- Why
- The government cited Supreme Court directions, resident demands, and nearly 300 annual pedestrian deaths due to encroached footpaths; Karjol said the evictions threaten the livelihoods of lakhs of poor families
Karnataka Government
BJP Opposition (Govind Karjol)
Footpath clearance vs. vendor livelihoods
Karnataka Government
Clearing footpaths is needed for pedestrian safety, follows Supreme Court directions and repeated demands from Bengaluru residents; nearly 300 pedestrians die on roads each year.
BJP Opposition (Govind Karjol)
The evictions threaten the livelihoods of lakhs of poor families and cause pain similar to the 1976 Turkman Gate demolitions under the Emergency.
Relocation promises vs. sudden evictions
Karnataka Government
The state government promised relocation and organised pushcarts for registered vendors.
BJP Opposition (Govind Karjol)
Unions strongly oppose the sudden evictions, and Karjol accused the Congress of remembering Dalits, the poor and backward communities only during elections.
- Campaign
- Safe Footpath Campaign
- Launch Date
- July 1
- Location
- Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Implementing Authority
- Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA)
- Annual Pedestrian Deaths Cited
- Nearly 300
- Vendors Claimed Affected
- About 2.5 lakh families; around 10 lakh people at risk of losing livelihoods
- PM SVANidhi Loans
- Over Rs 17,800 crore to more than 75 lakh street vendors
- Karnataka SVANidhi Beneficiaries
- Around 3 lakh