Mangaluru
A forum of street vendors has approached the district administration alleging a muzrai temple denying permission to Muslims to set up stalls during the annual festival. In a memorandum submitted to the Deputy Commissioner through Additional Deputy Commissioner G Santhosh Kumar, the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Beedi Badi Vyaparasthara Shreyobhivriddhi Sangha has alleged that Muslim vendors were denied permission to set up stalls during the festival at Kudupu Sri Anantha Padmanabha Temple.The temple has shown disparity based on religion by not allotting space for Muslim vendors to open stalls during festivals to be held between December 14 and 19. The festival fare stalls are opened outside the premises of the muzrai temple, Sangha Convener BK Imthiyaz said.
He said that space for stalls was not given to Muslims because of objections from some organisations that are likely to create trouble.
There are many poor Muslim traders, who depend only on festival fares for their livelihood. Hence, the district administration should protect their rights by ensuring space for business during the temple’s festival. Further, legal action should also be taken against those who denied space for stalls to Muslim traders, he urged.   Temple Committee Trustee Bhaskar Moily said that the temple has not given any such instruction that denies permission to Muslims. Since it is a temple under the Muzrai department, the committee cannot issue any such directive, he added.
