Reddy vows to stop MCD bulldozers

Faced with mounting political pressure over the court-ordered demolition of illegal structures in the capital, the central government today promised measures to spare "minor" building-law violations and strict action against land-grabbers in Delhi.

Remarking that an Ulhasnagar-type ordinance to stop the demolition drive was under consideration on Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's request, Union Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy said the Centre was also working out other solutions as "immediate measures" to stop MCD bulldozers.

New Union Minister of State for Urban Development Ajay Maken, who took charge today, said the solution would be in place "sooner than you can imagine."

"In a democracy, nobody can ignore panic among the public. Bulldozers can be used in a discerning manner," Reddy said, insisting that large-scale encroachments and minor changes in buildings "cannot be clubbed together".

Reddy, however, vowed tough action against powerful builder mafia and influential people accused of blatant violation of land laws. "Big names will not be spared," he said.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Delhi unit appears to be split down the middle over the demolitions. Delhi BJP chief Harshvardhan is facing a revolt in the ranks.

Accusing Harshvardhan of being a "loyalist Opposition" to the Diskhit government, former minister HS Balli today threatened to quit the party and his Assembly seat over the party's "complete inaction" over the demolition issue.

Balli said that he wanted to go on a hunger strike to highlight demolitions and the problems faced by citizens. But Harshvardhan prevented him by threatening to expel him for indiscipline, he alleged.

Balli called on BJP chief Rajnath Singh and handed him his protest letter. He later released the letter to the media. "I am ready to quit the party and as well as the Assembly to fight against the demolitions," he said.

Balli is not the only one who has a problem with Harshvardhan's style of functioning. Last week, at a state party unit meeting, Vijay Jolly, an MLA, was also allegedly threatened with expulsion for raising the demolitions issue.

Harshvardhan, however, said Balli's hunger strike call did not have the sanction of the party. The BJP has been unusually quiet over the issue, which has affected the rich, the poor and the powerful in the city. The return of former Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana to the party has also intensified the power struggle in the Delhi BJP.