Siliguri, 29th October: The railway authorities have issued notices to around 200 traders operating in the Siliguri Junction Railway Station area, asking them to vacate their shops within the next 15 days. Protesting against the notices, the traders kept their shops closed and staged a demonstration on the station premises on Thursday.
The traders said they had been running their businesses in the station premises for a long time and earning their livelihoods through them. The sudden notice asking them to vacate within 15 days has left them facing severe uncertainty. They are worried about how they will run their households and provide food for their families if their shops are removed.
The traders said they had already submitted written appeals to the railway authorities, legislators, ministers and various departments, seeking intervention in the matter. They clarified that they were not opposed to development but would not accept development that takes away the livelihoods of small traders.
The traders demanded the immediate withdrawal of the eviction notices and measures to protect their livelihoods. They warned that they would launch a larger agitation in the coming days if their demands were not addressed.
