PUNE: Citizens are thronging shops to make last-minute purchases as Diwali has begun. Firecracker stalls have been put up at various places. The PMC has made available the vacant space available for setting of cracker stalls on rent. The civic body has imposed some rules and regulations regarding the sale of crackers as per information available on PMC’s website.
Many people have set up stalls after taking necessary permission. However, stall operators contacted senior MNS leader Vasant More after they were harassed. They told More that the police and civic employees were demanding money. When Vasant More contacted a policeman who was demanding money, the cop asked whether the stalls were located in More’s area. More has put up a post on social media.
The post is as follows: “Our youths have set up cracker stalls on roadsides by taking care that they are not coming in the way of anyone. For the last two days, I have been hearing complaints that civic employees, policemen and traffic policemen are demanding bribes. Our youths are selling crackers and not ganja. A policeman crossed all limits when he was told by a youth to speak with me. He asked the youth whether it was Vasant More’s jurisdiction. Who has given you the right to decide my jurisdiction? I request you with folded hands to allow our youths to carry out their business because their Diwali is for only four days. If you don’t allow them to celebrate Diwali properly, then you will face music every day. Please don’t get into arguments about jurisdiction. Otherwise, I will go live one day and reveal who has taken how much money.”
