Police preventing YSRCP cadres from restoring a push cart which was removed as part of an anti-encroachment drive in Tirupati on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: K.V. Poornachandra Kumar
YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) reiterated its resolve to stand in support of the mobile street food vendors who were recently removed as part of an anti-encroachment drive. The party vowed to continue its efforts to ensure livelihood sources for the poor.It may be recalled that the food vending carts on the Alipiri-Zoo Park-Cherlopalli high road were dismantled, citing indiscriminate food disposal which attracted wild animals like deer and leopards into human habitation.However, the YSRCP took a plunge into the issue to support what it called the “constitutional right” of the food vendors. Cadres led by the party’s Tirupati constituency in-charge, Bhumana Abhinay Reddy, staged a demonstration and took out a walk in a bid to restore a food vending cart to a spot from which it was removed.“The fight is not just for push carts, but to ensure the dignity and livelihood of the affected families,” Mr. Reddy announced, citing Article 19 (1) (g) of the Constitution.However, police personnel gathered at the spot thwarted the move and detained the party leaders and workers. The department had already clamped Section 30 of Police Act in the city, which clearly prohibited any processions or demonstrations without prior permission.Meanwhile, District Collector S. Venkateswar explained that the makeshift food carts were removed to prevent traffic snarls and ensure pilgrim safety at Alipiri, the foot of Tirumala hills. When a delegation of food vendors met him on Tuesday, he also promised to protect their interests. Published - June 03, 2026 08:45 pm IST
