Khurana urges PM for issuance of Ordinance, statehood for Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 14 (UNI) Former Delhi Chief Minister and suspended BJP leader Madan Lal Khurana today urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the issuance of an Ordinance to halt the ongoing sealing and demolition operations in the national capital and ensure passing of a Bill in Parliament to grant full statehood to Delhi.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Khurana also called for strict action against the big builders who he alleged colluded in the construction of unauthorised buildings in the capital.

He also urged the Prime Minister to bring an Ordinance in the next session of Parliament to halt the sealing and demolition of unauthorised dwellings on the lines of the legislation enacted by the Maharashtra Government to regularise unauthorised constructions in Ulhasnagar.

Mr Khurana also called for granting statehood to Delhi so that the Delhi Government can take a decision on the lines of that taken by the Maharashtra Government.

Mr Khurana said a Bill to grant Delhi full statehood was presented in Parliament by the previous NDA Government at the Centre led by Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee and was referred to the Standing Committee of Home Affairs led by Mr Pranab Mukherjee which accepted it with some amendments. However, the Bill could not be passed due to the BDA opting for before time elections.

He said the Congress, in its manifesto during the last assembly polls, had promised to grant full statehood for Delhi.

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