New Delhi:
‘Sheesh Mahal’ Controversy Intensifies: BJP Slams Kejriwal Over Rs 33.66 Crore Renovation
As Delhi prepares for the upcoming Assembly polls in February, a recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has ignited a fierce political battle. The CAG’s audit of the renovation expenses for the Delhi Chief Minister’s residence has provided the BJP with fresh ammunition to criticize the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its leader, Arvind Kejriwal.
In New Delhi, the CAG report revealed that the initial estimate for the renovation was Rs 7.91 crore, which was later revised to Rs 8.62 crore when the work was awarded in 2020. However, by the time the Public Works Department (PWD) completed the project in 2022, the cost had skyrocketed to Rs 33.66 crore. This significant escalation has raised eyebrows and sparked accusations of financial mismanagement and corruption.
Delhi BJP chief Virendraa Sachdeva addressed the media, suggesting that the actual cost of the renovation could be even higher. “The figure of Rs 33.66 crore is just the tip of the iceberg,” Sachdeva said. “A thorough examination of the accounts and inventory prepared by the PWD on October 11, 2024, would reveal that the actual cost of Kejriwal’s ‘Sheesh Mahal’ could be around Rs 75 to 80 crore.”
The BJP has labeled the renovated Chief Minister’s bungalow as a “Sheesh Mahal,” implying lavish and unnecessary spending. The party has accused the AAP and Kejriwal of large-scale corruption, alleging that the PWD acted more like a personal institution for the Chief Minister rather than a government agency. The CAG report highlighted issues such as the “doubtful” selection of consultants, frequent revisions of estimates, and the inclusion of items beyond approved specifications.
Sachdeva criticized the PWD for declaring the project an emergency during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when many public development projects were stalled and people were struggling. “The way PWD officials broke every rule and law to build this ‘Sheesh Mahal’ indicates a clear case of corruption with a ‘give and take’ situation,” he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also weighed in on the issue, stating that while Delhi residents were fighting for oxygen and medicines during the pandemic, the AAP was focused on building the “Sheesh Mahal.” Kejriwal responded by questioning the Prime Minister’s own expenses, highlighting the cost of his residence, plane, and attire.
Kejriwal, who vacated the bungalow after resigning as Chief Minister, has vowed to return to the top job only after the “people’s verdict” in the upcoming Assembly election.
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