AAP, BJP should intervene to stop sealing drive: Maken

Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken today urged the AAP and the BJP to intervene in the ongoing sealing drive, saying that the move was destroying the livelihood of people, especially traders, here.
Speaking at Constitution Club on 'Mixed Land Use Reforms Laxity of the MCD and Governments Destroying Livelihoods and Delhi', he claimed that there were 5,12,000 retail and wholesale shops in the national capital.
"It is very strange that private markets are going to courts whereas the AAP's government and the BJP's MCDs are observing strikes," Maken said, adding that it should have been the other way.
He urged the BJP-led Centre and the AAP government to intervene immediately and said, "They should clarify the anomalies, de-seal the basements and other premises immediately, clarify or amend the MPD, status quo in special area till a re-development plan is made."

The Delhi government should immediately notify pending roads and the Centre should bring an ordinance, present their case in the apex court to provide relief to traders and stop the sealing, Maken said.
Citing the experience of the Congress, he said, "In 2006, when the sword of sealing was hanging over traders, the then Congress-led Centre approached the court and enacted a law and made amendments in the MPD 2021.