New Delhi: A war of words has erupted between the BJP and Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), with the BJP claiming that Rs 45 crore was spent on “beautification” of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s official residence in the city’s Civil Lines area. and demanded. His resignation on “moral” grounds. While there has been no official response from the Delhi government, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has hit back at the BJP.
Senior AAP leader Raghav Chadha said that the Chief Minister’s residence was built 75-80 years ago in 1942. The Public Works Department (PWD) of Delhi government had recommended its renovation after the audit.
Rs 44 cr spent on repairing Kejriwal’s residence: PWD
A senior PWD official said, “It was not a renovation and a new structure has come in place of the old structure. They also have a camp office. The expenditure is around Rs 44 crore, but the point to be noted is that the old structure has been replaced by the new one.” has been changed from.” Documents provided by sources show that against the sanctioned amount of Rs 43.70 crore, a total of Rs 44.78 crore was spent on “addition/alteration” of Kejriwal’s official residence at 6, Flagstaff Road in Civil Lines.
The money was spent in six installments between September 9, 2020 and June 2022, the documents show. According to the documents, the total expenditure includes Rs 11.30 crore for interior decoration, Rs 6.02 crore for stone and marble flooring, Rs 1 crore for interior consultancy, Rs 2.58 crore for electrical fittings and appliances, Rs 2.85 crore for fire fighting systems, Rs 1.41 crore for wardrobes and accessories fittings and Rs. 1.1 crore on kitchen appliances. It shows that out of the sanctioned amount of Rs 9.99 crore, an amount of Rs 8.11 crore was spent separately on the camp office located at the Chief Minister’s residence.
Kejriwal should resign: BJP
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said in a statement that Rs 45 crore was spent on “beautification” of Kejriwal’s bungalow at a time when Delhi was battling COVID-19. Sachdeva said, “Kejriwal should answer to the people of Delhi about his moral authority with which he spent around Rs 45 crore on the beautification of his bungalow when most public development works were stalled in the Covid era.”
The Delhi BJP president said it has been established that Kejriwal does not live in a house but in a “sheesh mahal” (in opulence) and asked the chief minister to resign on “moral” grounds.
Sachdeva said the 16-month period from September 2020 to December 2021 was the peak Covid phase when industrial activities came to a halt and the Delhi government’s revenue fell by more than half, and it stalled development projects citing paucity of funds. Gave it, he said.
Sachdeva alleged, ‘Kejriwal blew around Rs 45 crore at his house in that critical period, this is a big proof of his insensitivity.’ Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri alleged that Kejriwal’s “simplicity and honesty” had been exposed and he should resign immediately.
This is a government house, says AAP
AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Chadha, however, hit back at the BJP’s allegations, saying, “This is a government residence, it is not Arvind Kejriwal’s property.” “Unless you compare the expenditure on the residence of the Chief Minister of Delhi on the residence of the PM and that of the Chief Ministers of other states, how do you find out whether it is less or more?” Chadha said. Chadha also cited expenditure on the prime minister and chief ministers in BJP-ruled states to defend the amount spent on Kejriwal’s official residence in Delhi.