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`Bill is short term sop to traders'

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and MLA from Saket Vijay Jolly has criticised the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Bill, 2006, passed by the Lok Sabha this past Friday, terming it as a `short term sop' to the traders and shopkeepers of the Capital. He said the issue of sealing of shops could be resolved only if full-Statehood was granted to Delhi.

"The Bill is a cruel joke as it does not legalise any of the affected categories of traders, shopkeepers and owners of commercial establishments in Delhi. Despite the hue and cry by Delhi Congress leaders, there is no legal provision granting sanctity to commercial operations in residential areas, constructions beyond sanctioned plans and illegal encroachments by slums and hawkers. The limited purpose of the Bill is to maintain status quo for one year. This is half-hearted measure providing only temporary relief," he said in a statement on Sunday.

Mr. Jolly expressed disappointment over the non-implementation of a unanimous resolution passed by the Delhi Assembly in December 2005, seeking a complete stay and ban on all sealing and demolition drives in the Capital. "The Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the Delhi Development Authority should have acted on the directions of the Assembly but chose to turn a blind eye to the issue," he said.

Mr. Jolly also expressed concern over the decreasing powers of Delhi MLAs to legislate on civic issues and infrastructural developments. "Parliament deliberated on a State subject while the will of Delhi MLAs went largely ignored," he said.

Mr. Jolly has demanded that sealing and demolition drives should stop immediately and that the affidavits filed by traders seeking moratorium should now have the fresh deadline of one year from now.

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