Shiromani Akali Dal Councillor O S Thapar resigns; total 71

New Delhi, Nov 9 (UNI) Onkar Singh Thapar, Municipal Councillor belonging to the Shiromani Akali Dal today tendered his resignation from Municipal Corporation of Delhi in protest against the sealing drive against unauthorised commercial establishments in residential areas of the city.

He became the first non-Congress councillor to put in his papers.

With him the number of councillors who resigned in support of the 'affected' traders since yesterday, had gone up to 71, which included 15 members from MCD's Standing Committee.

Like the Congress members who gave their resignation to Leader of the House Jitendra Kochar, Mr Thapar also sent his resignation letter to Shiromani Akali Dal President Parkash Singh Badal, requesting him to forward it to the Mayor/Municipal Commissioner.

There were 108 Congress members in the MCD and almost all of them were expected to resign by this evening, party sources said.

The BJP, on the other hand termed it as a political stunt, saying MCD elections were anyway round the corner and people will see through this move.

Meanwhile, 19 BJP MLAs were detained by the city police at Ajmeri Gate in Central Delhi when they were proceeding from the State Assembly to the Prime Minister's residence in form of a rally to protest against the sealings.

The members have been suspended from the Assembly for the current session for allegedly creating bedlam over the sealing issue.

UNI IP SHB ND1540