Date:12/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/12/stories/2006051213590400.htm

New Delhi

MCD continues pick and choose policy: BJP

Staff Reporter

`Houses of Congress leaders not touched'

NEW DELHI: Senior BJP leaders in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi have alleged that the civic body was deliberately not targeting unauthorised constructions carried out by various Congress leaders in their properties in the Capital despite court orders.

Accusing the ruling Congress in the MCD of not taking action against its 31 leaders, including Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Delhi Congress chief Ram Babu Sharma, the BJP leaders said the civic body officials were following a "pick and choose" policy in the matter and only targeting innocent citizens.

"Around 3,000 innocent citizens have been targeted so far but the MCD bulldozers are yet to pull illegal structures of Congress leaders. The only politician against whom action had been taken is BJP MLA Jai Bhagwan Aggarwal, clearly highlighting the intentions of the MCD officials," alleged Leader of Opposition in the MCD Subhash Arya at a press conference on Wednesday.

According to BJP councillor Vijender Gupta by not taking action against Congress leaders the civic body was indulging in contempt of court and should be penalised for it. While no notices were being served on common man, the civic body was busy in carrying out paper work to save properties of Congress leaders, he alleged.

Meanwhile, the MCD squads on Thursday targeted 54 illegal structures in several parts of the Capital. Areas covered during the drive included Kalkaji, Lajpat Nagar, Mal Road, Narela, Vasant Kunj, Kapashera, Pitampura, Rohini, Motia Khan, Jagatpuri, Krishna Nagar, Dilshad Garden, Greater Kailash-I and Janakpuri.