A Private Member’s Bill was submitted by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) member Sanjay Singh in the Rajya Sabha on Monday to put an end to the sealing drive in Delhi.

“Today I have moved a Private Member’s Bill. Since independence, only 14 Private Member’s bills have been accepted as far as I know,” Singh told the media.

He urged all political parties to come together to pass the bill to end the sealing of shops and businesses operating from residential premises in the national capital.

Singh said the sealing drive had caused enormous difficulties for the traders and their families. The MP alleged that traders were being beaten up in the name of sealing.

“AAP has been saying from the beginning that the sealing can be stopped only by a bill or by an ordinance if the Parliament is not in session,” he added.

Earlier on Sunday, Delhi Congress Chief Ajay Maken had praised Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for conducting an all-party meeting over the sealing drive issue in the national capital.

Ajay Maken, in a tweet, had thanked Kejriwal for accepting his request. He went on to add that extending the invitation to BJP, which rules the MCD and the Centre, to join the meet is a very good initiative. (Translated from Hindi)

Maken added in his tweet that positive politics is needed. “I hope that the BJP will also be involved. We will meet with suggestions on the solution on Tuesday. (Translated from Hindi).”

The Delhi Chief Minister has written to Maken and Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari, inviting them for the meeting at his residence on Tuesday, saying: “We should rise above politics and come together to find a solution to the problems that have risen due to sealing.”

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However, the Delhi BJP had said that Manoj Tiwari was abroad as part of a delegation accompanying President Ram Nath Kovind and will be back by 15 March.

An office-bearer of the party said a decision on Kejriwal’s invitation will be taken after consultation with Tiwari.

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The sealing drive was undertaken by the municipal corporations of the national capital on the directions of a Supreme Court-appointed committee in December last year.

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Under the drive, hundreds of commercial establishments have been sealed so far for non-payment of conversion charges and violation of the Delhi Master Plan.

(With agency inputs)