However, on being asked, AMC Mayor Dipak Majumder said what AMC did it was correct as illegally occupied shops must be removed from public places. Mayor also accused many of the shopkeepers for illegally selling liquors inside their shops.

Congress leader Asish Saha on Tuesday visited Battala area where shops were taken away by Agartala Municipal Corporation without issuing notice to the shopkeepers and also without giving any alternative place the them to continue their business. Battala businessmen decided to call on strike in protest against this barbarism by the AMC in the name of SMART City. Congress leader Asish Saha said, “The Govt must think for the poor in its SMART City project. In the name of SMART City they are fooling the people. By removing shops from the city and snatching people’s livelihood, how can the Govt make a SMART City?”

A shopkeeper said, “At least AMC could inform us before they bulldoze our shops or take away our all items. At least we could save some of them and help the AMC further”.

It can be noted here Supreme Court has issued guidelines that “Right to Livelihood” is a constitutional right of a person. Question raises, whether BJP Govt has violated the guidelines by snatching the poor men’s only sources of incomes?

Former CM Manik Saha met the affected shopkeepers. Many shopkeepers broke down in tears after seeing the former CM, under whose governance such bad days were never seen.

Manik Sarkar condemned the inhuman activity by the AMC.