Politics

Delhi ‘renovation’ war: BJP said- Kejriwal spent 45 crores on CM bungalow, AAP claims to have spent twice as much on PM’s residence

April 26, 2023
Bharat Times

New Delhi: The BJP has alleged that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal spent Rs 45 crore on renovating his official bungalow amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), however, defended the renovation, saying that the bungalow was 80 years old, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi spent Rs 90 crore to renovate his official residence during the same time.

The BJP framed its allegations under ‘Operation Sheesh Mahal’, calling Kejriwal “…King (King)”.

“It’s the same King BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said at a press conference at the party headquarters on Wednesday, who used to say that ‘I will not take government accommodation, car or anything’. “It’s the story of Kingmental change of In 2013, he signed an affidavit that he would not seek additional security, a red-light car, or a bigger bungalow.

Patra said media reports claimed that Kejriwal spent Rs 45 crore to renovate his official bungalow in Civil Lines.

In 2013, before the Delhi elections, all the AAP leaders presented austerity affidavits, pledging to live like a common man and stay away from the VIP symbol.

According to a PTI report, senior Delhi Congress leader Ajay Maken also criticized Kejriwal over the renovation exercise, and questioned his right to continue in office as a public servant.

ThePrint reached AAP national spokesperson and Delhi minister Saurabh Bhardwaj for comment on the allegations, but did not receive a response till the time of publication.

However, AAP MP Sanjay Singh held a press conference where he attacked PM Modi for holding a rally in West Bengal ahead of the 2021 assembly elections as the second Covid wave started to engulf India. He also alleged that the PM spent huge amounts of money on various projects during the pandemic, including the renovation of the Central Vista and PM’s residence.

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BJP’s allegations, AAP’s defense

At the press conference, BJP leader Patra showed documents which allegedly showed the expenditure incurred for the renovation of Kejriwal’s official bungalow. These include crores of rupees allegedly spent on imported tiles, decorative flooring and renovation of the kitchen.

Patra alleged that an order was passed for 23 curtains, out of which 8 curtains had already been installed and the cost of each curtain was between Rs 3.6 lakh to Rs 7.9 lakh.

“Kejriwal was known to use a muffler and an old car for commuting, and even his ministers came in autos for his swearing-in ceremony. I wonder where that old WagonR car is now.

He further alleged that over Rs 1.15 crore was spent on marble imported “on special order” from Vietnam and about Rs 4.37 crore on pre-fabricated wooden walls.

He alleged that the money for these repairs was allegedly sanctioned during the second wave of Covid when Delhi was “struggling for oxygen cylinders, beds and treatment”. About Rs 7 crore was sanctioned on 1 September 2020, Patra said, followed by about Rs 1 crore on 8 June 2021, Rs 9 crore on 22 October 2021 and Rs 5 crore on 30 December 2021. Another Rs 9 crore was sanctioned. on 29 December 2020.

The BJP has also alleged that Kejriwal called leading editors and asked them not to publish the details of expenses and also offered money to conceal the information.

Senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha defended the renovation, saying the CM bungalow was built in 1942 and, according to reports, “needed renovation”. He also said that the renovation work took place after an audit by the Public Works Department (PWD).

In 2020, the Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC) – the statutory body tasked with maintaining aesthetics and environmental design in Delhi – had objected to the Delhi government’s plan to renovate the chief minister’s bungalow, according to reports.

Rejecting the PWD’s proposal, the DUAC had said that the department had described the project as an “addition and alteration” while proposing a “completely… completely new building after demolishing the structure”. was being done”.

(Editing by Anumeha Saxena)

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