NEW DELHI: Demanding a halt to the current phase of demolitions and sealing of commercial premises in the Capital's residential areas, nine Congress legislators on Wednesday alleged a conspiracy to effect migration of 50 per cent of Delhi's population, especially those belonging to poor sections and middle class through implementation of such orders.

They also charged that BJP and RSS-supported senior officials in the Delhi Government were trying to bring a bad name to the Congress party and its Government by placing wrong facts before courts.

Addressing a joint press conference here, the legislators demanded that the Central Government bring in an Ordinance or legislation to put an end to the sealing exercise and give relief to lakhs of people who would otherwise come on the road.

"A conspiracy has been hatched to effect mass migration from Delhi so that only the rich and affluent sections remain in Delhi. Only 10 per cent of Delhi's population goes shopping to malls and the rest are dependent on neighbourhood shops. There is a conspiracy to defame the Congress party through such actions and all this has happened due to failure of some top officials to present the correct picture before the court," senior Congress MLA Mukesh Sharma said.

Warning that the unrest would damage the Congress party's cause, Mr. Sharma said that if present orders were implemented, the prices of various commodities including essential ones would skyrocket and adversely affect revenue collections. This would have a negative impact on the development of the city.

The other MLAs present on the occasion included Jai Kishen, Anil Bhardwaj, Vijay Lochav, Malaram Gangwal, Bijender Singh, Balram Tanwar and Surinder Kumar.

Meanwhile, former Chief Minister and suspended BJP leader Madan Lal Khurana declared that he would undertake a "Delhi Bachao Sangarsh Rath Yatra" from April 8 against the ongoing sealing and demolition exercise. Mr. Khuarna said he would visit Ayodhya on April 7 to seek the blessings of Lord Rama and then return to launch his yatra.

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