Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been asked to vacate her government bungalow in Delhi by August 1. A government notice said her allotment stands cancelled from today and she owes Rs 3.46 lakh in dues. Priyanka Gandhi was “expecting this decision after the withdrawal of Special Protection Group (SPG) security”. According to her close circle, this wouldn’t deter her political work from criticizing the government. Shortly after the notice, she also made an online payment to ensure that her dues were all paid, according to sources. In the notice, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs said Priyanka Gandhi must exit bungalow 35 on Lodhi Estate allotted to her in 1997 as she no longer has Special Protection Group security. She is not entitled to a bungalow, said the officials, unless the home ministry makes an exception on grounds of security. “Consequent upon withdrawal of SPG protection and grant of Z+ security cover by Ministry of Home Affairs, which does not have provision for allotment/retention of government accommodation on security ground to you, the allotment of Type 6B house number 35, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi id hereby canceled with affect from 1st July 2020”, said the ministry’s office. Priyanka Gandhi has been told if she stays beyond August 1, she will have to pay penalty.
READ| Centre Directs Priyanka Vadra to vacate the Government Bungalow alloted to her
Sources close to the Congress leader said she had been reluctant to take the government bungalow in the first place but was forced to do so because of the SPG, which did not allow her to move into Sainik Farms in South Delhi after she married Robert Vadra. Elite SPG cover given to Congress President, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi since 1991 assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was withdrawn in November last year. The SPG, a 3000-strong crack commando force that comes with armored vehicles, now only protects Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Unlike her mother and brother, Priyanka Gandhi is not an MP and therefore, not entitled for a government bungalow, said an official from the ministry. The Congress says the government will now have to take a call on senior BJP leaders LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, who have retained their bungalows though they are no longer MPs. Many Congress leaders protested the stunning move. Among then was Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who said on account of threat perception, Priyanka Gandhi’s SPG security and bungalow should be restored. He also pointed out that despite his political differences with Akalis, former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal stayed in a government house with security arranged by the state. Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the move “signals the anxiety” of PM Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. “We will not be cowed down by these petty decisions of a frustrated government”, he said. Soon after the government’s move to downgrade the Gandhi’s protection to Z+ category last year, the Congress had alleged a security breach at Priyanka Gandhi’s house. On November 25, 2019, a care drove into Priyanka Gandhi’s home in Delhi without being stopped. Home Minister Amit Shah rubbished the allegation, saying the car had Congress workers. He said Rahul Gandhi was scheduled to visit his sister at the time so when a similar SUV drove in no one stopped it. The Ministry of Home Affairs said that CCA in its meeting held on December 7, 2000 had reviewed the guidelines on allotment of government accommodation on security ground and decided that in future, no private person, other than those who are SPG protectors, will be given such facility on security ground. “Such allotments were done at the market rate- 50 times of normal rent. Later, in July 2003, it was decided to charge a special rate of license fee like 20 times of the normal rent from such allottees”, official added.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been planning to move out of Delhi to Lucknow as the base camp for her political plans to resurrect the Congress in Uttar Pradesh. The notice yesterday to vacate her government bungalow has accelerated her plans, says sources. The Congress said the government’s step reflected “deep hatred and vendetta of Prime Minister Narendra Modi” towards the Congress leadership. Priyanka Gandhi’s plans to shift earlier this year were derailed by the coronavirus lockdown, say Congress sources. Her daughter has board exams this year and she has been waiting for those to get over before relocating. The Congress leader has finalized a home in Lucknow- it is the house that belonged to Congress leader Shiela Kaul, aunt of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi’s Grandmother. Sources say Priyanka Gandhi has decided to use that house as her base in UP, for meetings with party workers ahead of assembly and Lok Sabha polls.
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