Another AAP – LG Face-off: CM Atishi’s Belongings “Forcibly Removed” from Bungalow
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Oct 9: Indicating the start of a new face-off between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi and the centre’s representative in the national capital Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, the party alleged that the Delhi Chief Minister Atishi has been evicted from her official residence on Wednesday, two days after she moved into the bungalow.
The Delhi CM’s office alleged that the LG “forcibly removed” Ms Atishi’s belongings from the official home “at the behest of the BJP.” an allegation dismissed by the sources in Mr Saxena’s office. “For the first time in the history of the country, the Chief Minister’s residence was vacated. At the behest of the BJP, the Lt Governor forcibly removed Chief Minister Atishi’s belongings from the Chief Minister residence,” the Chief Minister Office (CMO) alleged.
The sources in the Lieutenant Governor’s office rubbished the claims by the AAP and said, “Atishi herself kept her belongings in that house even before it was allotted to her and then removed them herself.” “This house has not been allotted to Chief Minister Atishi yet. Her allotted residence is still 17 AB Mathura Road. How can two houses get allotted?” they claimed.
Atishi was allotted the AB-17 residence last year after she was appointed a minister in the Arvind Kejriwal government. The sources assured the “bungalow will be allotted to the Chief Minister immediately after the PWD prepares the inventory.”
Visuals showed several cartons and luggage being taken out of the official residence. A double lock has been put on the residence, sources said, adding proper paperwork was not submitted to the Public Works Department (PWD) regarding the handover of the keys. The bungalow has sparked yet another clash between the AAP and the BJP with both parties coming out with alleged documents to support their case. Atishi shifted to bungalow number 6 on Flagstaff Road in north Delhi’s Civil Lines on Monday, days after her predecessor Arvind Kejriwal, the former chief minister who occupied the home for more than nine years, vacated it.
Hours later, the BJP claimed that the bungalow was yet to be handed over to the PWD for fresh allocation. Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta, sharing a purported PWD letter dated October 6, alleged that Mr Kejriwal “did not vacate his bungalow” and that most of his belongings are still there. The letter, addressed to the special secretary of the Chief Minister’s Office, said, “It is brought to your attention that the keys of the house at 6, Flag Staff Road handed over to PWD were taken back after some time and are yet to be handed over to PWD to complete the process of handing over.”
The AAP, meanwhile, has accused the BJP of trying to “usurp” the bungalow. The AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh alleged that the bungalow was “yet to be allotted,” claiming the BJP was spreading “lies” on the issue despite documentary proof of Mr Kejriwal vacating the bungalow.
Mr Kejriwal resigned as chief minister in September and vacated the Flagstaff Road bungalow in Civil Lines last Friday. His new address is 5, Ferozeshah Road near Mandi House, which was allotted to AAP Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab Ashok Mittal.
