In Gyan Vihar Colony, Ajmer, Rajasthan, a young Muslim egg vendor has alleged harassment by the husband of local councillor Pratibha Parashar.
Arif Mohammad, who has been running his cart in the area for nearly a year and a half, said he is being repeatedly told to leave on the grounds that the spot is a “non-vending zone,” even though other stalls continue without interference.
“This cart is the only source of income for my family. I have been selling eggs here for more than a year. Many others also put up stalls here, but only I am being told to leave. This is discrimination,” Arif told reporters.
The matter escalated when Ashish Soni, district convener of the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP), came forward in support of Arif. Soni submitted a written complaint to District Collector Lokbandhu, demanding action against councillor’s husband Arvind Parashar.
“No hardworking man should be harassed just because of where he sets up his cart. This is completely unjust. Targeting a single vendor while others are left untouched is not acceptable,” Soni said, calling it “biased treatment that must not be ignored.”
Councillor Pratibha Parashar, however, denied the allegation of discrimination. She said the spot where Arif sets up his cart is unsafe because it is close to an empty plot where people allegedly drink alcohol and create disturbances.
“It is not safe to set up a cart at such a place. It also affects the image of the colony. We advised him to move to another place, but some people are unnecessarily trying to make it a big issue,” she said.
The incident has sparked debate among residents. While some view it as a civic matter, others believe it reflects selective action against minorities. “Street vendors work hard to earn their bread. If rules are to be applied, they must be applied to everyone equally, not just one man,” said a resident who did not wish to be named.
The District Collector’s office confirmed receiving the complaint and said a review will be carried out to see if the action against Arif was lawful.
For Arif, the fight is about more than his egg cart. “I only want to work honestly and feed my family. Why am I the only one being stopped? I just want justice,” he said.
