NEW DELHI: Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Sunday accused the Centre of bypassing the Delhi government in conducting a sealing operation in Mayapuri area that led to violent clashes between the traders and the security personnel.
But BJP-led South Delhi Municipal Corporation mayor Narender Chawla slammed the AAP government over the sealing issue and said he has written to the lieutenant governor and the chief secretary in this regard. Mayapuri falls under south zone of the SDMC.
Mr Chawla said: “The SDMC is only executing the sealing but it was done under the direction of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee and National Green Tribunal orders. We did not initiate the sealing.”
Claiming that the move was also in “violation of the model code of conduct”, Mr Chawla said, “They could have done it in a phased-manner... This was done to malign the image of SDMC ahead of the polls by the AAP, to benefit itself ahead of the nominations.”
On the other hand, Mr Sisodia lashed out at Union housing and urban affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri for blaming the AAP government for the violence in west Delhi, saying the responsibility of land allocation was with the Centre. “Delhi police is yours, SDM is yours, NGT is yours, DDA is yours and we are blamed. They should have some shame and take accountability for their actions,” Mr Sisodia said.
“Delhi government ministers were not involved in this decision. They were bypassed by the L-G (Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal),” Mr Sisodia added.
The operation was conducted days after the NGT had slammed the AAP government for not taking action against illegal scrap industries in Mayapuri that were causing pollution. City environment minister Imran Hussein said he was not consulted before taking action.
