NEW DELHI: The ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the Opposition BJP on Friday continued to squabble to take credit for protesting against the sealing drive, even as shops in major markets across Delhi remained closed on Friday
Many businessmen shut shops on Friday, to extend their "full support" to the call for a two-day bandh by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) against the sealing.
The sealing drive is being carried out on the orders of a Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee against business establishments that are using residential properties for commercial purposes without paying conversion charges.
The drive is being implemented by the three BJP-led municipal corporations.
Recently, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had met Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal seeking a solution to the issue.
Kejriwal suggested six amendments to the proposed Master Plan of Delhi 2021 (MPD 2021) formulated by Delhi Development Authority (DDA).
On Friday, while the strike was on, during a meeting with DDA, the LG – who also serves as chairman of the Authority – approved the necessary amendments to MPD 2021.
In Delhi, the municipal corporations are also under the state BJP, which led the AAP-led Delhi government to raise questions on BJP's involvement in the whole issue.
"The CM proposed these amendments, which DDA has approved and this will bring relief to the traders. The AAP has always stood beside them and the relief came through the continuous protest by our protest," said AAP MLA Somnath Bharti, a member of DDA.
Meanwhile, DDA member and BJP MLA OP Sharma termed the changes to the Master Plan as a "historic decision by the central government" and alleged that Kejriwal was misleading traders on the sealing drive.
Earlier this week, a BJP delegation, led by North East Delhi MP and Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari and Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta, had gone to meet the CM at his residence.
The meeting could not take place, however, as the BJP walked out and alleged supporters and leaders of AAP assaulted them.