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Violent reactions to Delhi demolitions

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Our Political Bureau New Delhi
Last Updated : Jun 14 2013 | 4:21 PM IST
Delhi saw demolitions in its busiest commercial and residential areas today, with citizens reacting in a violent manner and police resorting to lathi charge as the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) continued on its court-ordered campaign to demolish illegal structures in the city.
 
According to figures provided by the MCD, a total of 88 structures have so far been demolished "" mainly in the north, north west and central Delhi, including Rohini, Pitampura and Lajpat Nagar.
 
Of these, 78 structures were of a commercial nature, including the Haldiram building in Lajpat Nagar, while 10 were residential structures. Adding to this the eight structures that were demolished on Sunday, the number goes upto to 96.
 
The Delhi High Court, under whose orders the demolition drive has been initiated, has set a target of over 18,271 structures to be demolished in four weeks' time. This massive operation has enraged residents and traders, who say it was the MCD which encouraged illegal construction by turning a bling eye first, and now abdicating all responsibility.
 
"We were fleeced by MCD engineers for building these extensions and now they want us to demolish these structures," said a resident of Rohini in north west Delhi.
 
Another shopkeeper, this time in Pitampura, said his shop would be legal under a new mixed-land use policy to be adopted under the Master Plan 2021.
 
"Just before the plan is notified, this happened," said Jitender Singh, a shopkeeper. "When I came to Pitampura, mine was the only shop providing groceries, and it was a convenience for residents who also support me," he added.
 
"There was resistance from the local populace, and the police resorted to lathi charge in two places in Pitampura," said an MCD spokesperson.
 
"The campaign will continue throughout the month as this is a court-ordered demolition, and we are quite helpless about it. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit is in a quandry over the issue, since the Delhi Assembly Session will see an opposition from the treasury benches to this move, and not just from the BJP.
 
"Today, the House was adjourned due to P M Sayyed's death, since he was a Rajya Sabha member from Delhi. Tomorrow, she (Dikshit) will face the music," said a Congress MLA.

 
 

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