Date:06/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/04/06/stories/2006040624070300.htm

New Delhi

Advani urges PM to intervene

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, L.K. Advani, has in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh requested him to immediately intervene in the matter of sealing and demolitions in Delhi and if necessary promulgate an Ordinance to provide succour to the affected people. In the letter sent on Wednesday, the former Deputy Prime Minister demanded convening of a meeting of representatives of all the parties concerned and said the alarming situation in Delhi had developed "on account of governmental inaction in the face of the plight of thousands of traders and commercial establishments".

Stating that "in the name of implementing judicial orders, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, using coercive police force, has been either sealing shops and trading centres or bulldozing them to the ground", Mr. Advani said this had hit the livelihood of tens of thousands of poor and middle-class people, especially those dependent on self-employment.

The BJP leader said as a result of the action, the affected people were incensed as they have been made to pay for the lack of long-term planning