Delhi Cong MPs meet Sonia on demolitions in Capital

New Delhi, Apr 21 (UNI) A delegation of Congress parliamentarians from Delhi today met party president Sonia Gandhi on the ongoing demolition drive in the Capital and impressed upon her the need to bring about a legislation to put an end to the woes of Delhiites.

Declining to reveal Mrs Sonia Gandhi's response to their appeal, Science and Technology minister Kapil Sibal, who led the 4-member delegation, said she heard them patiently.

Stressing that there was no other alternative except bringing about an Ordinance or a Bill on the issue, he said this largescale destruction of Delhi could not be allowed to continue.

''We assure Delhiites that they would definitely get some respite and we will surely get it for them. We also hope that the Supreme Court would take a holistic view on the matter in its assessment on April 28.'' Condemning the government's doublespeak on selective demolitions, Mr Sibal said why action was not being taken against unauthorised colonies. ''A uniform policy should be adopted to deal with a given situation. There cannot be two yardsticks for the same thing.'' Calling for immediate intervention by the Union government into the matter, Mr Jagdish Tytler said only a two-line Bill stating that all demolitions be stopped until a new masterplan is brought could satisfy us.

''There was no other option but to bring about a Bill or an Ordinance. We want a new masterplan with new changes as we are frustrated with the ongoing demolition drive.'' Accepting that even the Congress, along with others, was responsible for the 'mess', Mr Sibal in response to a query said he would definitely like the Union cabinet to discuss the issue.

He added that till now their voice was not heard by his own government as various players were in the field.

Two others who were part of the delegation were Mr Sajjan Kumar and Mr Krishna Tirath.

Mr Sandeep Dikshit could not join the delegation as he was in Kolkata.

UNI AN LS BST1603