Illegal shops razed in Patiala, mayor Sanjeev Sharma Bittu protests

PATIALA: Six alleged illegal shops that were constructed on the land of 'Dharam Arth Board' were demolished at Ghalauri gate in Patiala on Friday following the orders of the deputy commissioner. The shops were owned by the husband of a municipal councillor of Patiala municipal corporation (MC).
The move irked city mayor Sanjeev Sharma Bittu, who along with his supporters held a protest against the demolition and termed it vendetta politics by the AAP government.Bittu, who alleged that AAP leaders too have constructed illegal buildings on government land, said there should not be selective but collective action against illegal constructions. He said there were 156 such dera lands under the board in Patiala city, while around 5,000 buildings on government land were "completely illegal."
Bittu, a loyalist of former CM Amarinder Singh, had left Congress and joined Amarinder's Punjab Lok Congress (PLC) last year, along with some councillors. "Other illegal buildings owned by influential people should also be demolished. Even AAP Patiala urban president Tejinder Mehta has constructed his house and office on government land," Bittu said. "The mayor cannot take any action against illegal construction on Dharam Arth land as the DC is its chairperson."
Mehta refuted the allegations: "My house is legal and I have documents. I will share the details in a press conference by Saturday."
Patiala DC Sakshi Sawhney said, "We are acting against illegal encroachments without any bias. Anybody having any input on illegal encroachments on Dharam arth land should provide us the same. On Friday, we demolished these six shops after we were informed by the officials of Municipal Corporation seeking action".
Harish Kapoor, owner of shops that were demolished, said, "The matter was sub-judice in the court and next hearing was scheduled next week but immediate orders were passed to demolish my shops." Former external affairs minister and Patiala MP Preneet Kaur has also reacted to the incident, and has termed the action against Harish Kapoor as 'motivated.'
"I urge chief minister Bhagwant Mann to rise above politics," she added.