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`Manmohan, Sonia should intervene'

Staff Reporter

Bring legislation: Ram Babu

NEW DELHI: Concerned over the present unrest in the Capital over the sealing of commercial premises in residential areas, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Ram Babu Sharma on Thursday sought intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi to put an end to one of the "largest displacement of people" by bringing in legislation in Parliament.

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Sharma said both Mr. Singh and Ms. Gandhi should immediately intervene to prevent the situation from getting explosive and out of control. "They should issue directions to the Union Urban Development Ministry to approach the Supreme Court immediately to seek extension of time for another six months so that the Government could get time to apply its mind and find a solution to the present complex issue," he added.

Mr. Sharma said till the time the Master Plan for Delhi-2021 was finalised and notified and the high-power Tejinder Khanna Committee submitted its report, the present process of sealing of premises should be stopped immediately by approaching the Supreme Court.

If there was no relief forthcoming from the Court, Mr. Sharma said the United Progressive Alliance Government should take steps to bring forward legislation during the re-convened session of Parliament and amend the Master Plan as well as the Act to save lakhs of people from being displaced. "A stringent law should also be introduced simultaneously to prevent any such illegal misuse in future by the land and building mafia in the Capital," he added.

Mr. Sharma said the present sealing exercise had caused unprecedented hardship and left many families and individuals without any source of livelihood. Demanding that steps be initiated to finalise the Master Plan for Delhi on a war footing, Mr. Sharma said for regularisation of unauthorised colonies and extending Lal Dora of villages as promised by the Congress party no condition should be laid down.

He said no city had prospered by shunting out its poor and middle class. "It is our commitment to the people of Delhi that all such illegal alterations and dwellings would be regularised. We have to honour our commitment even if it means making any kind of sacrifice. We cannot allow such a situation to prevail for long,'' he added.

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