Kejriwal threatens hunger strike against sealing drive

NEW DELHI: Providing shoulder to the traders facing sealing action, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said that he would go on a hunger strike if the sealing drive issue was not resolved until March 31. Kejriwal made the statement while interacting with traders in Delhi's Amar Colony market.

"I promise to all the traders across the political parties that if this sealing drive does not stop by March 31, I will sit for a hunger strike with the traders," said the CM. CM Kejriwal requested all the MPs of all the political parties to raise the issue in the Parliament to urge for an ordinance against the sealing. "I met the representatives of the traders and discussed the matter. There was a need for amendment in Master Plan 2021 by DDA but the Supreme Court has rejected it. The only option is an ordinance which will stop this drive," said the CM.

CM Kejriwal said that he will write a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi describing the need for the ordinance and he will also meet the Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on this matter. Talking to the protestors, he said, "If you think that criticizing me will bring a halt to the sealing, I have no problem but this drive should be stopped," the CM said to the traders. CM Kejriwal also said that in Delhi Assembly they will bring a bill which later will be sent to the Central government.

Delhi traders called for a day-long 'bandh' next week in protest against the ongoing sealing drive against illegal commercial establishments and threatened to move their businesses to neighbouring cities. The decision to close all markets in Delhi on March 13 was taken at a meeting convened by the Confederation of All India Traders, CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said. The meeting was attended by leaders of more than 250 prominent trade associations of Delhi, Khandelwal said. The traders demanded that the Union government bring a legislation in the current session of Parliament to put a moratorium on sealing. They urged Delhi CM to convene a one-day special session of the Assembly and pass a bill to stop the drive that began from Defence Colony Market in mid-December.

Meanwhile, reiterating the CM's words, Spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said that the only way the sealing drive can be stopped is by an ordinance by the BJP. He further said, "The BJP in Delhi is not at all serious about the problems being caused to the traders in the national capital?" He added that the first sealing was made in Defence Colony, at that time also we had said that it was a conspiracy to collect money from Delhi traders, they are being fooled.