The reactions came close on the heels of an all-party meet organised by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to address the matter and provide relief to traders
The ongoing sealing drive kept political activity alive in the capital on Monday as the three major parties - the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress accused each other of mishandling the issue. The reactions came close on the heels of an all-party meet organised by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to address the matter and provide relief to traders.
Rajya Sabha MP and AAP leader Sanjay Singh blamed the BJP for the "dismal" state of traders, who are facing the brunt of the drive. In a press conference held here, he said that businessmen are facing a hand-to-mouth because of the sealing which has been going on for the past many months. "The BJP rules at the Centre and the BJP-led municipal corporations are initiating sealing drives and harassing the traders. If the centre wants, it can bring a bill on sealing, and put an end to the woes of businessmen," Singh said. "Instead we are being questioned every day, and the party is casting aspersions at us for ruining business in the Capital," he said.
Meanwhile, the BJP, too, questioned the AAP government over its failure to provide any relief to traders. The party maintained that Kejriwal was keener to show his political presence in Chhattisgarh and making speeches. A senior BJP leader said, "Why did the chief minister refuse to meet us when we went to him with a proposed solution for sealing? Instead, his party members misbehaved with us. Is this how he plans to soothe the pain of traders?"
On the other hand, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Ajay Maken, while addressing a meeting of the Delhi State Traders' Congress at the DPCC office said, the ongoing sealing drive in Delhi was illegal as all the shopping areas in Delhi are covered from sealing in the existing laws. He said, "The Delhi government, the three MCDs and the central government should approach the Supreme Court with all the relevant documents. There is already a law in place to provide relief to the traders. They are also protected in the Master Plan 2021. There is no need to pass a new law."
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