Govt asks Priyanka Gandhi to vacate bungalow by Aug 1; Cong alleges vendetta

The government on Wednesday (July 1) asked Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to vacate the bungalow allotted to her in Lutyens Delhi within a month, saying she is not entitled to the facility following withdrawal of her SPG protection.

A fuming Congress alleged that the Modi government was “blinded by hate and vendetta” against its leadership, and said it will not be cowed down by such moves.

According to an order issued by the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, Gandhi was asked to vacate her official bungalow by August 1 failing which “it will attract damage charges/penal rent as per rules”. The government had in November last year replaced the Special Protection Group (SPG) cover of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, with Z-plus security by the CRPF.

“Consequent upon withdrawal of SPG protection and grant of Z+ security cover by the Ministry of Home Affairs, which does not have provision for allotment/retention of government accommodation on security grounds to you (Gandhi), the allotment of Type 6B House No. 35, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi is hereby cancelled w.e.f 01/07/2020. One month concessional period on the same rent up to August 1 is allowed as per rules,” the Directorate of Estates said in its order.

An official said that the Congress general secretary, who is in-charge for Uttar Pradesh, had been allotted the bungalow on February 21, 1997 as she was an SPG protectee. The Z-plus security does not entail such a facility and she has to vacate 35 Lodhi Estate bungalow, the official said.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the party does not fear from such notices and will continue to highlight the “wrong-doings of a failed Modi government”. “PM Narendra Modi and his Government are blinded by rage, hatred and revenge against the Congress leadership. Unnerved by political activism of Priyanka ji in UP, Modi Government has stooped even further by issuing house vacation notice. Such frustrated attempts will not deter us,” he tweeted.

He said Priyanka Gandhi has also been highlighting the failures of the UP government. “Priyanka Gandhi is Indira Gandhis grand-daughter and neither she nor the Congress leadership will be cowed down by such notices,” Surjewala said

The Congress had reacted sharply to the withdrawal of SPG cover to the Gandhi family and had even raised the issue in Parliament.

Senior party leader and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said on Wednesday that the the Union Government should withdraw the cancellation order in the interest of Priyanka Gandhi Vadras security and safety. The official said that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was paying around Rs 37,000 per month as a rent.

“Persons with Z+ security cover are not entitled for the government accommodation. Such exceptions can be made only by the Cabinet Committee on Accommodation based on security assessment by the Ministry of Home Affairs on their recommendation,” an official said.

The official also said that the 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 protectees, will be given such facility on security ground. “Such allotment were to be done at the market rate — 50 times of normal rent. Later, in July 2003, it was decided to charge special rate of licence fee like 20 times of the normal rent from such allottees,” official added.