His fear is shared by about 400 other small vendors in the Bhosala-period market who might have to make way for a commercial complex to be constructed by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC).

They are not willing to believe the assurances being given by political leaders and have launched a struggle which, ironically, has been dubbed by politicians as ``politically motivated.''

The market has a 150-year history. Even today, it is registered in NMC records as `Rajesahebanchi Gachchipaga.' Situated near the Bhosalas' rajwada, the huge elevated platform initially served as a stable for the royal family's horses. A square pond sits in the middle of the market. It is said that during the Bhosala period therewas a system in place to supply water to the pond from Shukrawari tank. The small pond even had a fountain in the middle, old-timers recall.

Near the stables, a few families would sell bel, patrali, flowers, kumkum and other pooja material. The vendors take great pride in saying that some of the items being sold here are scarcely available even today anywhere else in the city.

Over the years, petty vegetable vendors too settled here. Some of them have been here for four or five generations. Their financial condition has not improved much, though. Says potato-vendor Leelabai, ``We have been leading a hand-to-mouth existence for as long as I can remember. If the prices have increased, so has the number of mouths I have to feed. There is no room for any expansion in this business. But I can't do anything else.''

One in a while, the vendors come across a local politician who is sympathetic, for whatever reason. One such municipal corporator got tin roofs erected for some vendors. Another had concreteflooring laid out where the vendors sit.

``We may not be earning much but this is the only source of income we have. Now they are going to take this away too,'' said Devaji Kamble who sells green vegetables.

The NMC body has decided to construct a commercial complex where the Budhwar Bazar now stands. ``We are barely able to feed our families and have enough money left to buy stocks. Where will we get the money to buy shops in this new complex?'' asked a petty vendor Shantabai Vairagade.

Baba Patrale who is leading the vendors in their struggle laments that the civic body did not take them into confidence before deciding their fate in this way. ``Do you think that people who earn Rs 50 to Rs 60 a day can shell out a couple of lakhs for the shops?'' he wanted to know.

There is also a distinct feeling amongst not only the vendors but also residents around that this unique Bhosala-period market should be preserved for its historical value. Surely there are lots of other open spaces for the NMC to earnmoney by building commercial complexes. Budhwar Bazar, they say, is like an oasis in the midst of the concrete jungle in the bustling Mahal area.

For years together residents have been used to buying their vegetables or pooja material in the open-air bazar. ``They walk up to the shops with their bicycles or scooters and go around shopping. In this otherwise crowded area, where do you think the shoppers are going to park their vehicles if the complex is built? They'll just go elsewhere,'' fears Radheshyam `Panwalla.'

The vendors staged an 18-day hunger strike which yielded no results. A week back, some of them went with a representation to Mumbai and returned with an assurance from the Chief Minister. But the vendors don't trust anybody. ``All politicians are the same. They don't mean a word of what they say,'' feels kumkum-seller Ramrao.

Guardian Minister Nitin Gadkari who lives a stone's throw from the market expressed complete ignorance about the vendors' agitation. When contacted, he claimed none ofthem had ever met him or informed him about their problems.

The vendors, on their part, claim that they have frequently tried to get through to the Guardian Minister but each time were turned away because either he was ``too busy'' or he was ``out of station.''

Patrale says they faced the same problem with the Mayor as well.

When contacted by this newspaper, Gadkari sought to allay their fears. ``Surely we would not simply oust the poor vendors from the market. The alliance government is committed to the welfare of the weaker sections. In Nagpur alone, we have made arrangements to accommodate 10,000 hawkers,'' he said.

According to him, blocks in the commercial complex would be made available on nominal rates to the displaced petty vendors. To others the shops would be sold at commercial rates to recover the costs of construction.

``We are not like the Congress to give only lip service to the poor,'' the minister said and accused local Congress leaders of instigating the vendors.