MCD seals 337 shops amid protests from political corners
New Delhi, Apr 20 (UNI) The BJP as well as Congress leaders today protested against the sealing of shops in the residential areas even as the sealing activity by the MCD continued with 337 shops being put to seal 15th day today.
In fresh protests in the Congress ranks over the sealing issue, Congress MLA from the Uttam Nagar area in the Outer Delhi assembly segment Mukesh Sharma today reiterated his call to Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit to take the initiative to seek relief for small traders from the crisis that has arisen over sealing of shops.
He pleaded with the Delhi Chief Minister to pass a resolution in the Cabinet and forward it to the Centre for passing an Ordinance.
''Or else, the Chief Minister, along with all the Congress MLAs of Delhi, should sit on a hunger strike to get justice to the people,''Mr Sharma said.
He also claimed that he was not allowed by the police to leave his house in West Delhi's Uttam Nagar in the morning where he was scheduled to join a protest against the sealing drive.
Meanwhile, the BJP today continued with its Jail Bharo Abhiyan, which entered its 15th day. 110 workers of the BJP Narela district, under the leadership of Prof Om Prakash Kohli and district president Ajay Sharma, courted arrest at Azadpur Chowk.
Senior BJP leader V K Malhotra and BJP councillor Vijender Gupta were also present at the site.
However, the MCD sealed 337 properties, including a property owned by brother of swashbuckling Indian cricket opener Virender Sehwag in Najafgarh area of West Delhi.
An MCD spokesman said the Corporation this morning sealed a two-storeyed property of Sehwag's brother Vinod Sehwag at Najafgarh, which was being used for commercial purposes.
''The property had, for quite some time, been serving as a commercial complex on its ground, first and second floors instead of being used for residential purposes,'' the spokesperson told UNI.
Also, the MCD sealed 24 properties between 1700 hrs and 2000 hrs yesterday.
The maximum number of 53 shops were sealed in Sadar Paharganj, 47 in Shahdara (South), 46 in central zone, 40 each in Civil Lines and Shahdara (North), 36 in Najafgarh, 33 in Rohini, 16 in Karol Bagh, 15 in South Zone and 11 in West.
The MCD also desealed 320 shops -- 69 in Karol Bagh, 51 each in Shadara (South) and South zone, 39 in city, 26 in city, 24 in civil lines, 22 in central zone, 21 in West and 17 in Sadar Paharganj.
With today's sealing, a total of 5486 shops in the residential areas have been sealed since the operation began on March 29.
Sealing action has already been completed in the civil lines area.
A total of 1385 shops have been de-sealed to date.
Meanwhile, the five-day protest Dharna of Delhi traders on sealing of shops issue entered its fourth day today.
The protesting traders have invited elected representatives of Delhi to join the dharna tomorrow.
UNI AR VJ RAI2018