UDHAMPUR, February 12, 2026 — Former Councilor Preeti Khajuria led a strong protest against the Udhampur Municipal Council following its recent crackdown on local street vendors at Venus Chowk.
Khajuria accused the Council of repeatedly targeting and “crushing” the livelihoods of poor families, which has led to increasing hardships for the local community. She pointed out that while the primary responsibilities of the Council include sanitation, water supply, and infrastructure maintenance, the current administration seems focused solely on punitive actions against the vulnerable.
During the protest, Khajuria highlighted the lack of designated vending zones and questioned the government’s stance on local employment. She argued that while Article 370 was revoked with the promise of opening Jammu and Kashmir to outsiders, local residents are being denied the right to work. She specifically noted that even those who have taken loans to start small businesses are being suppressed.
The protest intensified after a vending cart belonging to a “Divyang” (specially-abled) woman was reportedly destroyed during the Council’s operation.Khajuria further criticized the Municipal Council for continuing to collect fees from vendors while simultaneously dismantling their structures, questioning the purpose of such payments.
She challenged the administration’s commitment to the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative and the “Atmanirbhar Nidhi” scheme launched in 2020, which was intended to support these very individuals.
Calling for a CBI investigation into the Council’s activities, she urged the Director of Urban Local Bodies to review the conduct of officers, alleging that urban development has been neglected in favor of turning Udhampur into a “heap of garbage”.
