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In a poignant scene in Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh, former Chief Minister Uma Bharti was seen serving hot poha near a small roadside shop on Tuesday morning. This act was her way of protesting against the municipal corporation's recent removal of street vendors. The 66-year-old leader, dressed in saffron, chose the Civil Lines area for her demonstration. Just a day prior, the municipal authorities had initiated a campaign to clear encroachments, leading to the removal of vendors from key city locations. The streets were still littered with broken carts and scattered utensils.

Responding to the situation, a senior BJP leader remarked that Bharti's actions were a protest against the anti-encroachment drive that had displaced street vendors from prominent areas of the city. Recently, the Tikamgarh municipal corporation had conducted an operation on Civil Lines Road, where officials, including the SDM and Tehsildar, cited encroachment as the reason for clearing numerous handcarts and small stalls.

This action has raised concerns among local vendors, many of whom rely on these stalls for their livelihoods. On Tuesday, Bharti took to the streets to symbolically sell poha and jalebi alongside the vendors, expressing her dissent. She condemned the administration's actions as tyrannical and urged officials to reconsider, stating that such measures unfairly target the poor.

Bharti emphasized that small traders work hard to support their families, and such campaigns directly threaten their means of income. She appealed for the reinstatement of the removed stalls, allowing vendors to continue earning at their usual spots. Furthermore, she warned that if similar actions were repeated, she would escalate her protests.