CM writes to PM Modi, Rahul to bring Bill against sealing

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi, seeking time to meet them to resolve the issue of sealing of commercial establishments in Delhi.

In his letter to the Prime Minister, Kejriwal stressed on bringing a Bill in the Parliament to remove anomalies in the law, which are the reasons behind sealing of commercial establishments.

The Chief Minister also warned that unemployment caused by the drive could adversely affect the law and order situation in the Capital.

"The reason behind sealing is anomalies in the law. It is the responsibility of the Central government to remove these anomalies," the CM said.

During a protest against the sealing drive at Amar Colony on Friday, the Chief Minister had threatened to go on a hunger strike if the drive is not stopped by March 31.

"Traders earn their livelihood honestly and pay tax. But, they are suffering due to sealing. There is only one solution now. A Bill has to be brought in Parliament to remove anomalies in the law and save traders from unemployment," he said.

In his letter to the PM, the Chief Minister said, "The traders are on the verge of starvation and each shop is a means of livelihood for many people. If all of them are rendered unemployed (due to sealing), it may impact the law and order situation."

Kejriwal also sought an appointment with the PM to discuss the sealing drive.

In his letter to Rahul Gandhi, the Chief Minister also sought an appointment with him, pointing out that the sealing of commercial establishments is driving lakhs of people unemployed.

"A solution to this problem should be found by rising above politics. This issue needs to be strongly raised in Parliament and pressure should be exerted on the Centre to bring a Bill over it," Kejriwal wrote to the Congress president.

The sealing drive was undertaken by the municipal corporations of Delhi, in accordance with the directions of a Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee, in December last year.

Under the drive, hundreds of shops, outlets and other commercial establishments have been sealed for non-payment of conversion charges and violation of the Master Plan Delhi-2021.