New Delhi   

Sheila's move a face-saver

Sujay Mehdudia

GoM meets today on the sealing issue

NEW DELHI: Even as the Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil is scheduled to meet on Saturday to discuss the strategy over the sealing issue in the Capital, the resolution being moved by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on the issue in the Delhi Vidhan Sabha on October 30 is being described as a face saver that would achieve little as far as providing relief is concerned.

On the other hand, the Congress party is divided over the language and motive behind the resolution as it seeks to target the Congress-led Union Government and puts the onus of all the ills on the Union Urban Development Ministry. There is also concern within the party if at all the resolution has the approval of the party high command or the general secretary in charge of the party's Delhi affairs, Ashok Gehlot.

"There is provision in the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) constitution that any resolution that hits the party's own Government in the State or the Centre has to be approved by the Congress high command before it is introduced in the legislature," said a senior party functionary.

DPCC team meets CM

Interestingly, while the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee led by its president Ram Babu Sharma is demanding amendment to the Constitution and incorporation of the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2006, in Schedule IX, the Chief Minister is harping on the tune of finalising the Master Plan for Delhi-2021, something that is not going to work for the present lot of traders affected by the Supreme Court orders.

Mr. Sharma had also met Ms. Dikshit on Friday night and sought a categorical assurance from her about the Delhi Government's stand on the issue of sealing.

"I impressed upon the Chief Minister to take a stand on the issue and not blame the Union Government for everything that is going wrong in the city. We have to stand by the people who have voted for us and get relief for them even if it means approaching Parliament or the Supreme Court," he said.

Misconception

However, officials in the Union Urban Development Ministry said that the emphasis of the GoM and the Chief Minister on the notification of a new Master Plan for Delhi-2021 was a misconception. Officials explained that all the Master Plans after the first Master Plan of 1962 were amendments carried out to section 11A of the Delhi Development Act.

Similarly, they pointed out that with the notification of the new Master Plan for Delhi it would not be possible to provide relief to the people as what has been notified in the Master Plan for Delhi-2001 cannot be repeated in the new plan and anything new to be notified will have to wait for at least one year till all the zonal plans are finalised.

The new Master Plan will not provide relief to the 45,000-odd traders or the 5 lakh-odd traders who have been asked to file affidavits before January 31.

"It is all a political game that is being played by the Chief Minister's camp to target Union Minister for Urban Development Jaipal Reddy and his deputy Ajay Maken. Even the Chief Minister knows the reality but refuses to abide by it," said a senior official of the Ministry.

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

Stories in this Section

Sheila's move a face-saver
Congress legislators demand extended CLP meeting
A tribute to the maestro
From Khyber to Karachi
BSES consumers get the e-option
Set up fast-track courts to try terror cases: Shatrughan Sinha
It's a hunt for serious candidates in JNU
All-out arrangements for Chhat
BJP to stage protest against sealing drive
All set to soar high in the sky
Man held for fraud
Demand for rights of Dalit Christians
PSIs passing-out parade held
Lord's progress
Shashi Kapoor to inaugurate IFFI-2006
Top cop held on forgery charge
Around the City
Briefly
In the Capital Today
Spotlight on reforms

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu