NEW DELHI: Joining the race among political representatives to take the credit for resolving the issue of sealing and demolitions in the Capital, four Congress Members of Parliament led by Union Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal on Friday met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and sought introduction of a legislation to bring an end to the present phase of uncertainty in the Capital.

Addressing a press conference later, the MPs refused to reveal the response of the Congress president to the issues raised by them but said they were given a patient hearing.

Others present in the delegation included former Union Minister Jagdish Tytler, Outer Delhi MP Sajjan Kumar and Karol Bagh MP Krishna Tirath.

"There is no other alternative but to bring in a legislation as such a situation cannot be allowed to continue. A two-line Bill should be introduced stating all demolitions and sealing should be stopped immediately,'' Mr. Tytler said.

Holistic view

Mr. Sibal assured the people of Delhi that they would get relief and hoped that the Supreme Court would take a holistic view of the whole matter on April 28.

Mr. Sibal was critical of the Delhi Government's "double-speak" on the issue of selective demolitions and wondered why action was not being taken against the unauthorised colonies spread across the Capital. "A uniform policy should be adopted to deal with a given situation. There cannot be two yardsticks for the same thing,'' he added.

Seeking immediate intervention of the Union Government, Mr. Tytler said an atmosphere of fear had gripped lakhs of residents of the Capital and it was time that till the Master Plan for Delhi was finalised, all demolitions and sealing be stopped.

At this Mr. Sibal intervened and said there was no option but to bring about a Bill or Ordinance to save the situation. "We want a new Master Plan for Delhi with drastic changes, as we are frustrated with the ongoing demolition drive."

Different players

Accepting that even the Congress, along with other parties, was responsible for the "present mess", Mr Sibal said he would like the Union Cabinet to discuss the issue at the earliest.

"Till now our voice was not heard by our own Government as different players are in the field,'' he added.

East Delhi MP Sandeep Dikshit could not join the delegation as he was away in Kolkata.

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