NewDelhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday postponed his hunger strike over the ongoing sealing drive in the national capital.
The AAP convenor had earlier this month announced that he would begin a hunger strike if sealing was not stopped in the city by March 31.
According to reports, the decision to suspend the hunger strike was taken since the matter is now sub-judice and the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the sealing matter from April 2 on a day-to-day basis.
Delhi’s ruling AAP government has also appointed two advocates in the case.
The decision was announced by Saurabh Bharadwaj, the chief spokesperson of AAP’s Delhi unit.
Bharadwaj said that the Chief Minister took the decision to defer his hunger strike after he was appealed by several trader associations and lawyers that his fast could “annoy” the court, which could adversely impact outcome.
Addressing traders in Amar Colony on March 9, Kejriwal had said that he would go on a hunger strike if the issue of the ongoing sealing drive against commercial establishments in Delhi is not resolved by the end of this month.
“The Chief Minister has been appealed by several trader associations and also advised by some lawyers that when the matter is in the court and the court is going to hear it on a day-to-day basis, CM’s fast could annoy the court, which could adversely impact outcome. They urged CM to postpone his decision,” the AAP spokesperson was quoted as saying by media.
The Chief Minister will closely monitor the situation and keep an eye on all developments in this regard, he said.
The ruling AAP government in Delhi has strongly opposed the sealing drive against commercial establishments for allegedly violating civic norms. The move began following the directions of the Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee since December last year.
Earlier this month, the chief minister had called an all party-meeting with the Monitoring Committee to find out a solution to sealing drive.
Another all party-meeting called at Kejriwal’s residence was boycotted by the BJP.
Bureau Report
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