S. Jaipal Reddy

NEW DELHI: Union Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy on Wednesday asserted that the Government had the right to frame the law and court could only interpret it. He was reacting to the sealing and demolition drive being conducted by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on the orders of the Supreme Court.

"We are with the people and, if necessary, we will amend the Constitution or convene a special session of Parliament to frame new legislation." Emerging from an emergency meeting of the Congress Coordination Committee held here under the leadership of AICC general secretary Ashok Gehlot, the Minister said: "We stand by the July 21 notification on mixed land use and commercial use. We will fight for implementation of this notification, as it is our right to frame the law. The Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation has already submitted to the Monitoring Committee that it [Corporation] would follow the notification issued by the Union Government. We are with the people of Delhi and will ensure that they get relief." Flanked by Mr. Gehlot, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Union Minister of State for Urban Development Ajay Maken, Mr. Reddy said the Government was prepared to amend the Constitution and with the consensus of all parties convene a special session of Parliament to enact a new law. "I once again assert that the court has no right to frame the law and it can only interpret it. The people of Delhi should not panic as we are already working on a solution." Terming unfortunate the death of three innocent persons in police firing, Mr. Reddy said: "I can understand the point of view of the agitating people. I want to assure [them] that we will solve the problem as we have done in the past. The latest notification has provided 98 per cent relief to the people. The 2,220 roads notified by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi for mixed land and commercial use will face no sealing and directions in this regard have already been issued to the concerned authorities."

Asked how the court will view these assertions, Mr. Reddy shot back: "Leave it to the Government. We will fight out the case. The Supreme Court has issued no order against the Government or on the legality of the latest notification. The public notice notifying 2,220 roads is still valid and no sealing or demolition will take place in such areas. We are only asking for some time from the people of Delhi and we will get them relief."

Mr. Gehlot appealed to the people and traders to maintain calm and said the Congress high command was seized of the matter. Expressing grief over the loss of lives, he said nobody should politicise the situation.

Congress' assurance

Briefing mediapersons, AICC general secretary Satyavrat Chaturvedi said the party was fully committed to protecting the interests of Delhiites and it stood by Mr. Reddy's statement on enacting a new law to end the sealing and demolitions. Mr. Chaturvedi charged the Bharatiya Janata Party with adopting double standards on the issue. "When the NDA Government was in power and [though] all seven MPs from Delhi were from the BJP in the last Lok Sabha, they did nothing to save the situation and find a solution." he said.

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