New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed that around Rs 45 crore was spent on “beautification” of CM Arvind Kejriwal’s official residence in the city’s Civil Lines area during the Covid-19 peak and demanded his resignation on “moral” grounds.
The BJP said the most “pathetic” aspect of the Rs 45 crore repair work at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence was that the money was sanctioned when Delhi was in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, “When the Corona epidemic was at its peak and people were dying, Arvind Kejriwal was busy renovating his bungalow. During this time, Arvind Kejriwal spent crores of rupees in the renovation of his Sheesh Mahal.” At one time, Kejriwal used to say, one should stay in a one-room house. This story is being told in front of the media, from the spread of feet to the liquor scam.
The BJP dubbed Kejriwal a “Maharaja” after he spent Rs 45 crore on the renovation of his residence. Sambit Patra said that now the media is also being tempted not to run the story of ‘Arvind Kejriwal Maharaj’. Now, when Kejriwal is asked a question, he says, “Which car does the Prime Minister go in?” We will also raise questions on the Central Vista, but the Central Vista is the heritage of the country.
The kings will also bow before Kejriwal for his selection of “exquisite” products for the bungalow and “longing for a luxurious and comfortable life”.
Of the eight curtains purchased for Kejriwal’s bungalow, one was priced at over Rs 7.94 lakh, while the cheapest of them was worth Rs 3.57 lakh. Marble worth over Rs 1.15 crore for the bungalow was brought from Vietnam, while Rs 4 crore was spent on pre-fabricated wooden walls.
There was no official reaction from the Delhi government on the issue of Kejriwal’s residence, but the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) hit back at the BJP.
Speaking to the media, senior AAP leader Raghav Chadha said the chief minister’s residence was built 75-80 years ago in 1942. He said the Public Works Department (PWD) of the Delhi government had recommended its restoration after an audit.