Politics
Congress' Ajay Maken Alleges Delhi CM Kejriwal's Residence Renovation Cost Rs 171 crore, Not Rs 45 Crore Claimed By BJP
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Congress leader Ajay Maken has claimed that the cost of renovating Arvind Kejriwal's residence was Rs 171 crore, and not Rs 45 crore as claimed by the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Congress leader Ajay Maken of Congress claimed that the cost of renovating Arvind Kejriwal's residence was ₹171 crore, not the BJP's claimed Rs 45 crore.
In a press conference, Maken announced that he intends to write to Delhi Lieutenant-Governor V K Saxena seeking action as the renovation was a breach of privilege because the AAP government had passed the budget without clarifying what it was meant for.
He further alleged that the renovation also flouted provisions of the Delhi Master Plan.
Maken also explained how the figure of Rs 171 crore was reached. He said that there were four residence complexes, located adjacent to Kejriwal's official residence at 6, Flagstaff Road, Civil Lines, comprising of 22 officers' flats that were either demolished or vacated for the expansion of the Chief Minister's residence.
In order to compensate for these flats, the Kejriwal government had to purchase 21 Type-5 flats worth Rs 126 crore in the Commonwealth Games Village, Makan said.
"The cost of buying these flats must also be added to the cost of Rs 45 crore,” Maken said.
The Opposition has slammed Kejriwal for renovating his house during COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier, Maken had shared a tweet of an affidavit signed by Kejriwal, in which he promised to maintain an austere lifestyle. According to AAP leader Sanjay Singh, the house in question was 80 years old and needed renovation.
Maken said that Delhi Master Plan safeguards the Civil Lines area as a heritage zone, restricting multi-floor constructions.
Hence, there needs to be an investigation as to how heritage and green cover protection provisions of the master plan were violated.
“I am requesting the Lieutenant-Governor to use his authority to immediately stop further construction there and since, it is being spent from the consolidated fund of India and Delhi being the Union Territory, the L-G has the right to intervene,” Maken said, reports The Hindu.
Maken urged for the L-G to take action against erring PWD officers, as well as the Chief Minister and PWD Minister.
"All these three people should be adequately punished under the law,” he added.
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