274 shops sealed on 13th day, 4764 sealed till date

New Delhi, Apr 18 (UNI) Even as protests from various quarters against sealing of shops in residential areas in Delhi, as per an order by the Supreme Court, with the BJP's Jail Bharo Abhiyan and traders' dharna at Jantar Mantar, continueing today sealing activity by the MCD continued for the 14th day today, with 274 shops being put to seal.

The maximum number of 50 shops were sealed in Civil Lines, 48 in Sadar Paharganj, 45 in Shahdara (South), 33 in Rohini, 29 in central zone, 18 in Najafgarh, 17 in Karol Bagh and 16 in South zone.

At the same time, the MCD de-sealed 139 shops - 55 in Karol Bagh, 41 in Rohini and 26 in South zone.

With today's sealing, a total of 4764 shops in the residential areas have been sealed since the operation began on March 29.

Of them, the maximum number of 882 shops have been sealed in the Karol Bagh area, followed by 635 in Civil lines, 522 in Rohini, 493 in Central zone, 486 in Shahdara (South), 402 in Najafgarh and 353 in West zone, 338 in the South zone and 77 in civil lines.

With today's sealing, action has been completed in the Civil Lines area.

A total of 847 shops have been de-sealed till date.

Meanwhile, the BJP today continued with its Jail Bharo Abhiyan which entered its 13th day.

Former BJP Delhi pradesh president Mange Ram Garg, along with 153 BJP workers, today courted arrest in the Rohini area of North Delhi in protest against the sealing of shops in residential areas.

Also present on the occasion were BJP Delhi Pradesh President Harsh Vardhan, general secretary Pawan Sharma and legislator Kulwant Rana.

Earlier, addressing the BJP workers, Dr Harsh Vardhan, demanding the dismissal of the Sheila Dikshit Government in Delhi, said,''Ms Dikshit has no moral or Constitutional right to continue as Chief Minister as she has lost the trust of her minister, MPs, legislators, councillors and the people of Delhi.'' On this occasion, he declared that the BJP workers would continue with their Jail Bharo Abhiyan till the sealing was not stopped completely.

Yesterday, BJP workers, led by BJP National secretary and former Union Minister Vijay Goel courted arrest at Town hall in Chandni Chowk.

Meanwhile, the five-day protest Dharna of Delhi traders on sealing of shops issue entered its second day today with hundreds of trade leaders belonging to more than 40 trade bodies participating.

In a communication to Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit, the traders urged her to lead an all party delegation, including trade representatives, to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to apprise him of the gravity of the situation and impress upon him to bring an immediate ordinance or bill to save Delhi trade from sealing action.

UNI AR PK KN2008