BJP trying to mislead public with eye on assy polls: Cong MPs

New Delhi, Jan 21 (UNI) Congress MPs from Delhi today alleged that the BJP was trying to create confusion in the minds of the public on the issues of sealing and demolition and charged them of misleading the people of the city to create a political mileage ahead of the assembly elections in the state.

In a joint press conference addressed by the president of the Delhi Pradesh congress committee Jai Prakash Aggarwal along with the Delhi Congress MPs Ajay Maken, Jagdish Tytler, Sajjan Kumar, Krishna Tirath and Sandeep Dikshit termed the threat by BJP councillors in the MCD of indulging in a ''jail bharo'' andolan ''political stunt'' ahead of Assembly polls in Delhi.

Speaking at the press meet, Congress MPs from Delhi today said while the Congress had in the last three years taken several steps to provide relief to the public from sealing and demolition, the BJP had, during its five year rule at the Centre, done nothing to give relief from sealing.

Rather, they alleged that it was the BJP which was directly responsible for the large scale demolition in the city.

''It is the Congress that has taken several steps over the last three years to give respect to the public from demolition, the most important of them being the notification of the 2021 Master Plan for Delhi, which has brought relief to 99.99 per cent of people of Delhi.

In contrast, the BJP, during the five years that it was in power at the Centre, did nothing to prevent sealing and demolition in Delhi. And, now when 99.99 per cent of people have got relief, they are trying to create confusion among the public through various misleading statements,''Union Minister of State for Urban Development Ajay Maken said at the press meet.

Mr Maken said under the 2021 MPD, the total Floor Area Ratio (FAR) for residential localities had been increased from 225 m during BJP's time to 350 m.

''While only 75 per cent ground coverage was allowed during BJP's rule, we provided 100 per cent ground coverage. Also, the maximum height permitted was raised from 12.5 m to 15m, which is the highest possible under the prevailing fire safety norms,''Mr Maken said.

Dismissing statements by some BJP leaders that fourth and fifth floor could not be built in a building with a maximum permissible height of 15m, Mr Maken said,''as the Urban Development Minister, I can assertively say that in a building with 15m height, construction can be carried out upto fifth floor. by making statements to the contrary, the BJP is trying to create unnecessary confusion among the people of Delhi.'' He also said the clause 16.3.2 of chapter 16 of the 2021 MPD clearly stated that in case of unauthorised colonies, walled city and special areas, building with 100 per cent coverage cannot be demolished if it gets a structural safety certificate.

On the BJP councillors' threat to undulge in a 'jail bharo' andolan on the isssue of sealing and demolition, Mr Maken said,''against whom will they carry out a jail bharo andolan.

Today, it is the MCD that is carrying out demolition.'' Speaking on the occasion, former Union Minister and Congress MP Jagdish Tytler said,''The BJP has done nothing to give relief to the public from sealing. Whatever steps have been taken in this regard have been taken by the Congress Government.'' Congress MP Sajjan Kumar said the threat of the BJP was a panic reaction on its part over the steps taken by the Congress Government in Delhi and the Centre to give relief to people from sealing and towards regularisation of unauthorised colonies.

''Today it is the MCD staffers who are carrying out demolition in many areas,''he said.

On the occasion, DPCC president J P Agarwal said the BJP move was a political stunt as its was the BJP was directly responsible for the demolitions.

''In contrast, the Congress has give people relief from demolitions. And, I can assure people of Delhi that we will not allow any structure to be demolished,''Mr Agrawal said.

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