The Hindu : Front Page : Sealing drive may be postponed?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Oct 28, 2006
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

Sealing drive may be postponed?

Staff Reporter

Sheila meets Union Home Minister; law and order situation discussed

NEW DELHI: Unnerved by the three-day "Delhi bandh" call issued by various traders' associations and backed by parties across the political spectrum, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit met Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Friday amid speculation that the widely feared sealing drive might not take off on November 1 due to fear of a possible law and order situation.

With memories of the September 20 bandh violence in the Capital still fresh in mind, a nervous Ms. Dikshit was meeting Mr. Patil for the second time in two days. Mr. Patil is heading the Group of Ministers (GoM) on sealing that is scheduled to meet on Saturday.

What fuelled a great deal of speculation over the meeting was that Delhi Chief Secretary R. Narainswamy as well as Police Commissioner K. K. Paul accompanied Ms. Dikshit when she met Mr. Patil. It is understood that the police have got inputs that the situation is very tense on the ground and the three-day bandh beginning on Monday could turn violent. Four persons had lost their lives in police firing at Seelampur during the September 20 bandh and property worth crores was destroyed by mobs that took to streets to protest against the sealing and demolitions.

It is learnt that the police are of the view that keeping in mind the seriousness of the situation and the strong resentment prevailing among the people, it would be better if the sealing action were postponed for some time.

It is learnt that Dr. Paul briefed the Union Home Minister at length about the feedback from various areas. The Chief Secretary is also understood to have informed that there was reluctance among MCD officials to undertake such an exercise from November 1, as they feared that they might be targeted by violent mobs.

It is understood that Ms. Dikshit pleaded with Mr. Patil that things could get out of control during the bandh as people were agitated about the prospect of losing their livelihood and therefore it was important that a holistic view of the situation was taken.

It is learnt that the issue of law and order situation and its possible fallout on the streets would also come up for discussion during the meeting of the GoM on Saturday and a final decision is likely to be taken on what should be done keeping in view the gravity of the situation.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page