The once-famous Shaheen Bagh vegetable market is in shambles. BY Jauwad Hassan
It has been making headlines due to the ill-treatment shoppers face from some rude shopkeepers and vendors. An incident in the market just a day ago, which has gone viral, will leave you feeling ashamed.
What was once a place of harmony and brotherhood has now become a hub for anti-social elements, who are posing as biryani or fruit vendors. Misbehaviour with decent people, lewd comments towards women, and mistreatment of customers have become common thing at the market. Immediate action is necessary to address this disgraceful situation, or it won’t be long before this place witnesses a major tragedy.
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In the holy month of Ramzan, the assault on a young man in front of his mother is a slap in the face of humanity. This incident is not only heartbreaking, but it also shows that if such criminals are not dealt with now, they will become even more brazen in the future. We urge the Delhi Police to take strict action in this matter to ensure that no one dares to commit such acts again.
Request to mothers, sisters of Okhla and Jamia Nagar
The Shaheen Bagh market is no longer what it used to be. The attitude of the shopkeepers has worsened, and incidents of pick-pocketing and fighting are on the rise. The area witnesses daily fights over trivial matters. We urge the mothers and sisters of our community to stay away from this market until the situation improves and prioritise their safety above all else.
The time has come for all of us to raise our voices together and pressure the administration to restore order to this market and bring back the former vibrancy of Shaheen Bagh.
What other residents say
Sharing a video showing a fight taking place, activist and local resident Shahzad Ali wrote: “Shaheen Bagh’s market has become a hotspot for such incidents. There are regular fights with decent people, harassment of women, and lewd comments being made. The administration should take strict action against these people, or in the future, these individuals might cause a major incident, which wouldn’t be surprising.”
In a post yesterday, he wrote: “Yesterday, once again, in Shaheen Bagh’s market, a shopkeeper misbehaved with a female customer over an exchange of goods. The woman called her son for help… These people cannot be considered businessmen; they are criminals posing as vendors. Strict legal action should be taken against them. Because of them, the entire community is getting a bad name. It’s unfortunate.”
Maqsood Alam, a resident of Shaheen Bagh, said this is not a new issue. He said some shopkeepers/vendors often behave in a rude manner, and if a customer complains about poor-quality fruits, goods, or improper weighing, the shopkeepers immediately become aggressive and ready to fight.
He also mentioned that just a few days ago, a fight broke out over a biryani kiosk blocking the road.
He suggested that there should be an enquiry or action taken against street vendors, as they frequently mistreat customers, and fights occur regularly over minor issues. The situation is such that some people even fear visiting the market, and if they do, they make sure not to upset the vendors who block the road as if it were their personal property.
However, he pointed out that the situation in Batla House market is much better, as the shopkeepers there are well-behaved. When asked about the rude behaviour of some vendors in the Shaheen Bagh market, he said it is a serious case study why these vendors act this way, and that the administration should conduct background checks on them.
Netizen and Okhla resident Furqan Bilal posted on his timeline: “A shameful act: a fight during the month of Ramadan.”
(Jauwad Hassan is a social activist and a resident of Okhla. Views are personal)
