Mysuru: Over 150 petty shop owners, under the banner of Mysuru District Small Scale Retailers Association, took out a rally in city this morning, in protest against the State Government's order banning the sale of loose cigarettes, beedis and chewing tobacco products. The rally, which commenced from Kote Anjaneyaswamy Temple at the North Gate of the Palace, passed through Big Clock Tower, Gandhi Square, Old Bank Road, Dufferin Clock Tower, D. Devaraj Urs Road, JLB Road and Hunsur Road, before reacting the Deputy Commissioner's (DC) office, where a memorandum was submitted.
Claiming that petty shop owners and small-time vendors were making a living by selling loose cigarettes, beedis, chewing products, soaps, biscuits etc., the protester accused the Government of robbing their livelihood by banning the sale of loose cigarettes and other tobacco products. Alleging that the Government ban order will only help stockiest and big traders, the protesters urged the Government to withdraw the ban and thus come to the rescue of petty shop owners and small vendors. Association President M. Noorulla, office-bearers S. Mohan Kumar, M. Mahadev, Khadir, Nikhil, Nazeer and others took part in the rally.
