Friday, September 22 2006 13:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Wednesday's violence in Seelampur seems to have set political antennas in Delhi buzzing. Both the Congress and the BJP seem to have smelt blood and are all out to reap political dividends. While the Congress is saying there would be more such incidents if the SC strikes down the mixed-land use notification on Monday, the BJP is holding the Congress responsible for Seelampur.

The urban development ministry had clarified its stand on Wednesday night itself by saying that no sealing would take place in the notified areas. On Thursday, the Congress headquarters also got into the fray with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announcing the setting up of a three-member GoM to look into the issue of sealings.

The GoM headed by Home Minister Shivraj Patil will submit a second affidavit in the SC on Friday, which will give details of Delhi's master plan and the effect of sealing on traders. Meanwhile, there was heavy police and RAF deployment at Seelampur. No sealing was carried out on Thursday and the official spokesperson of MCD, Deep Mathur, clarified that sealings have been stopped till Sept 25, due to law and order problems.

"We have been getting calls from employees and their families as the anger on the street against the MCD is increasing. We want police protection for them," said Jitender Kochchar, leader of the House. The Congress is also hopeful that since the festival season is beginning soon, sufficient police force will not be available to support the MCD staff during sealing.