BJP demands Amnesty Scheme for Unauthorised Construction in Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 12 (UNI) Expressing serious concern over the renewed threat of demolition and sealing of unauthorised shops and residential properties in Delhi following the Supreme Court directions, the BJP today threatened to launch a "Jail Bharo" agitation if the Government did not regularise all such constructions and 1500 unauthorised colonies through an "Amnesty Scheme".

BJP Parliamentary Party spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra said the BJP held the view from the very beginning that an amensty scheme be brought to provide one time relief to people for unauthorised construction.

Besides, the Government should also regularise all the unauthorised colonies without any further delay, he said, saying the Master Plan 2021 and two Ordinances issued by the Government were not enough to save the people from the "sword hanging on their heads" against sealing and demolition.

He said the Master Plan and Ordinance had only helped in creating more confusion. Mr Malhotra said the Supreme Court's direction to the Delhi Government to start sealing within three months, would also apply to those shops being run from a place for the past 30 to 40 years. As many as 20,000 to 25,000 shops would be razed to the ground if the court order was implemented in toto and the government did not bring in any legislation within time to provide relief to them.

If the Government did not take any step to save the people from further harassment, the BJP would have no option but to initiate "Jail Bharo" agitation, he said.

UNI KAS/MCN PK AS1650