MUMBAI: To showcase the increasing encroachments on

and footpath by unlicensed hawkers, the

(

) on Wednesday staged an exhibition with pictures of hawkers.

It alleged that the non-action by civic officials against the hawkers was only leading to a rise in the number of them on Mumbai roads and footpaths.

The exhibition was held in the backdrop of the recent spat between the MNS party workers and BMC G South ward officials wherein former MNS corporators had gone to the BMC ward office to complain about the encroachments in their area, alleging a lackadaisical response, and ended up arguing with the civic officials.

Following the spat, MNS took to social media and asked citizens to post pictures of the unauthorized hawkers so that BMC officers were made aware of it. On Monday they collated the 2,000 plus pictures of unlicensed hawkers they received from several parts of Mumbai and hosted the exhibition.

Sandeep Deshpande, the MNS general secretary, said that these pictures clearly show how the problem of hawkers taking on city streets is ramphant across Mumbai. "Despite being well aware the BMC officials choose not to act against it. This forced us to take to social media and start a hashtag #wardofficerchorhai," he said.