The Hindu : New Delhi News : We will oppose sealing, says Bidhuri

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 08, 2006
ePaper

New Delhi

New Delhi

We will oppose sealing, says Bidhuri

Staff Reporter

Congress, Delhi Govt. accused of taking the people for a ride

FLIP SIDE OF THE BANDH: Life seems normal in Fatehpuri market during "Delhi bandh" on Tuesday in protest against sealing of commercial establishments in residential areas . — PHOTO: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA

NEW DELHI: Asserting that the Nationalist Congress Party, the Jan Morcha and the Janata Dal (S) led by former Prime Minister V. P. Singh will oppose the sealing drive in the Capital, NCP Delhi unit president Ramvir Singh Bidhuri on Tuesday accused the Congress party and the Delhi Government of taking the people for a ride by passing meaningless resolutions in the State Assembly.

In a statement, Mr. Bidhuri said he was at a loss to figure out whether the Congress was for sealing of thousands of premises or wanted to stop it.

"It is a very unfortunate situation in the city. The Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee had passed a resolution seeking an end to sealing and demanding that the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2006, should be incorporated into Schedule IX of the Constitution. The Coordination Committee of the Congress party headed by AICC general secretary Ashok Gehlot had declared that it would go to any extent and even vouched for a Constitutional amendment. Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy had declared that they would explore the possibility of convening a special session of Parliament to deal with the matter. But now the Group of Ministers headed by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil had made it clear that sealing would not stop."

Mr. Bidhuri said it was unfortunate that Mr. Patil had told a delegation of Congress MLAs that they should stop demanding an end to the sealing drive and instead persuade the people to follow the Supreme Court orders.

"What is even worse is that Mr. Patil had talked about deployment of paramilitary forces for effectively carrying out the sealing drive. The Congress is in a bad shape. The right hand does not know what the left is doing and the party, the Delhi Government and the Union Government are pulling in different directions. They are unable to decide what is best for them or the people of Delhi,'' he charged.

Mr. Bidhuri said it was unfortunate that Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had moved a resolution in the House that had no meaning but refused to incorporate his amendment for including the whole matter into Schedule IX of the Constitution, exposing herself to the charge of being a party to the sealing drive.

"The Chief Minister and her party are not serious about putting an end to sealing drive and are in fact patronising the whole issue," Mr. Bidhuri said, adding that he would soon consult Mr. V. P. Singh and unveil a plan of action of the three-party forum on the issue of sealing.

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

New Delhi