New Delhi: The BJP has alleged that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal spent Rs 45 crore to renovate his authorities bungalow amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The Aam Aadmi Get together (AAP), nevertheless, defended the renovation, saying the bungalow was 80 years previous, including that Prime Minister Narendra Modi spent Rs 90 crore to renovate his official residence throughout the identical time.
The BJP made its allegations underneath what it termed ‘Operation Sheesh Mahal’, referring to Kejriwal as “maharaj (king)”.
“It’s the similar maharaj who used to say ‘I gained’t take the federal government home, automotive or something’,” BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra mentioned at a press convention on the occasion headquarters Wednesday. “This can be a story of that maharaj”s psychological transformation. In 2013, he signed an affidavit that he gained’t take additional safety, a crimson beacon automotive, or a giant bungalow.”
Media reviews, Patra mentioned, have claimed that Kejriwal spent Rs 45 crore to renovate his authorities bungalow at Civil Traces.
In 2013, earlier than the Delhi elections, all of the AAP leaders had submitted an affidavit for austerity, pledging to reside just like the widespread man, and shunning VIP symbols.
In accordance with a PTI report, senior Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken additionally criticised Kejriwal over the renovation train, and questioned his proper to stay in his place as a public servant.
ThePrint reached AAP nationwide spokesperson and Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj for a remark over the allegations however hadn’t obtained any response until the time of publication.
Nevertheless, AAP MP Sanjay Singh held a press convention, the place he attacked PM Modi for holding a rally in West Bengal forward of the 2021 meeting elections, because the second Covid wave had begun to engulf India. He additionally alleged that the PM spent an enormous amount of cash on numerous initiatives through the pandemic, together with Central Vista and the renovation of PM’s residence.
कोरोना महामारी में फ़र्ज़ी फकीर की रईसी-
Central Vista: 23000 Crore
PM निवास: 500 Cr
मौजूदा निवास की मरम्मत: 90 Cr
जहाज: 8400 Cr
Automobile: 12 Cr
Pen: 1.25 Lakh
Swimsuit: 10 Lakh
Sunglass: 1.6 Lakhजब देश कोरोना से जूझ रहा था PM Modi Bengal में रैली कर Corona फैला रहे थे
–@SanjayAzadSln pic.twitter.com/0yx5YG5ues
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) April 26, 2023
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BJP’s allegations, AAP’s defence
On the press convention, BJP chief Patra confirmed paperwork that purportedly confirmed the bills made for the renovation of Kejriwal’s official bungalow. These allegedly included imported tiles, decorative flooring, and crores spent on kitchen renovation.
Patra alleged an order for 23 curtains was handed, out of which 8 curtains had already been put up and the price of every curtain “ranged between Rs 3.6 lakh and Rs 7.9 lakh”.
“Kejriwal was identified for utilizing a muffler and an previous automotive for commuting, and even his ministers got here in autos for his oath ceremony. I’m wondering the place is that previous WagonR automotive now,” Patra requested.
He additional alleged that greater than Rs 1.15 crore was spent on marble imported from Vietnam “on particular order”, and about Rs 4.37 crore on pre-fabricated wood partitions.
He alleged that the cash for these renovations was allegedly sanctioned through the second wave of Covid when Delhi was “struggling for oxygen cylinders, beds and therapy”. About Rs 7 crore was sanctioned on 1 September 2020, Patra mentioned, including that round Rs 1 crore was sanctioned on 8 June 2021, Rs 9 crore on 22 October 2021, and Rs 5 crore on 30 December 2021. One other Rs 9 crore was sanctioned on 29 December 2020.
The BJP has additionally alleged that Kejriwal known as distinguished editors and requested them to not publish the main points of the bills, and even provided cash to suppress the data.
Senior AAP chief and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha defended the renovation, saying that the CM bungalow was in-built 1942 and “wanted renovation”, in accordance with reviews. He additionally mentioned that the renovation work came about after an audit by the Public Works Division (PWD).
In 2020, the Delhi City Arts Fee (DUAC) — the statutory physique for sustaining aesthetics and environmental designs in Delhi — had raised objections to the Delhi authorities’s plans to renovate the CM’s bungalow, in accordance with reviews.
Rejecting the PWD proposal, the DUAC had mentioned that the division had described the challenge as “addition and alteration” whereas an “completely new constructing was being proposed after fully demolishing the… construction”.
(Edited by Anumeha Saxena)
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