Sheila Dikshit defends Centre's move on demolition, "de-sealing" in Delhi

New Delhi, Feb 2 : Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit on Saturday defended the Centre's move to suspend demolition and sealing in Delhi, saying that the decision was taken after taking into consideration the "ground realities."

Dikshit is confident that the Supreme Court will not oppose the Centre's move to halt spare sealing of all structures built before January 2006.

"Even if it is a political gimmick I don't care as long as it gives relief to the people. We don't think the court will oppose our viewpoint as they don't want people of Delhi to suffer," the Chief Minister told the NDTV.

Meanwhile, Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy refused to comment on what the court will say on the government's notification, and added that the truth and the fact is that whatever "we have done is within the ambit of the law and the MCD is bound to obey court orders on de-sealing."

Elaborating further, Reddy said, "This means that we have specifically asked the MCD to start de-sealing process ion the city and they are bound to obey our orders with immediate effect.''

Commenting on the allegations levelled by her political rivals that the move was a political gimmick prior to the Assembly elections, Dikshit said: "The opposition instead of criticising us should actually welcome the decision because in the past they have tried to gather so much publicity over the issue."

"Now that we have done something concrete, they should welcome it," she added.

The Centre on Friday directed MCD and DDA to "de-seal" farmhouses, warehouses and godowns on agricultural land and commercial establishments in unauthorised colonies, village abadi areas as well as its extensions.

ANI