Friday, April 21 2006 11:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: MCD yesterday (Apr 20, 2006) sealed as many as 337 properties here as part of its action against commercial establishments in residential areas, even as police barred Congress MLA Mukesh Sharma from leaving his home as he planned to obstruct the drive and opposition BJP activists courted arrest to protest the sealing.

The MCD took action against shops and offices running in residential areas in 10 of the 12 civic zones, with maximum impact in Sadar Paharganj zone, where 53 such commercial establishments were sealed as part of the court-ordered drive.

A total of 320 shops were de-sealed today after their owners submitted affidavits undertaking that these would be closed voluntarily by June 30.

Political activity over the sealing action also continued, with Congress legislator Sharma prevented by police from leaving his home to protest against the sealing drive in Janakpuri, Shankar Garden, Krishna Park and Uttam Nagar areas that fall in his constituency.

Sharma claimed that he was put under "house arrest" from 8:30 AM till 6:00 PM.

"This is highly undemocratic. As a free citizen of this country, I have every right to raise my voice against any injustice," he said.

Sharma, known to be a stauch detractor of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, also called upon her to take part in the relay hunger strike being undertaken by the party MLAs to protest against the demolition of illegal constructions and sealing of shops in residential areas.