Jugsalai cracker sellers protest Admn action, sit on dharna, allege ‘double standards’

Jamshedpur: Just a few days are left to Diwali, the Festival of Lights. And the cracker sellers of Jugsalai are already on a war path against Administration’s action. They are protesting a series of actions taken against them. They are also alleging that the administration is adopting ‘double standards’ on the issue of sale of crackers.

On the other hand, the district administration has taken a strict stance on almost all fronts before the Diwali festival and is taking tough measures to ensure law and order too. While Coronaavirus remains a concern, law and order too is a priority for the administration, as is safety of citizens.

The district administration has also taken a series of tough measures against the sale of crackers and is not in a mood to provide any relaxation as far as cracker-sellers are concerned.

On Sunday, a team of district administration, led by the Dhalbhum SDO Nitish Kumar Singh had checked the stocks of several cracker shops and had even sealed one shop.

On the other hand, cracker sellers too have opened a front against the action taken by the district administration and have now sat on a dharna before their shops.

The cracker sellers are saying that Diwali is a festival that is celebrated with crackers. They also alleged that the district administration has granted licence to only a ‘select few’ and is adamant on rendering others into joblesss persons.

They said that they would continue agitating till the district administration pays heed to their demands.

There are at least 14 cracker sellers only in Jugsalai area of the city.

Only two have been issued with permanent licences, while others are issued temporary licences every year. This year, however, the temporary licences have not been issued.