Government asks Priyanka to vacate official bungalow by August 1

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, July 1

AICC general secretary and Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is all set to lose her posh government accommodation in Lodi Estate with the government today cancelling the allotment and asking her to vacate the house by August 1.

Won’t be deterred by such notices: Congress

New Delhi: Terming the service of house vacation notice to AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as an act of vendetta, the Congress on Wednesday said the party would not cow down by such moves and would continue to raise issues concerning people. “BJP’s hatred and sense of vendetta for Congress leaders is well known but the government has now touched a new low by serving a house vacation notice to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. We won’t be flustered by such notices,” Congress media head Randeep Surjewala said. TNS

In an order today, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs said the cancellation had been ordered consequent upon the withdrawal of Special Protection Group cover to Priyanka and the related grant of Z plus security cover by the Home Ministry.

The government had in November 2019 withdrawn the SPG cover from Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi and said they would now be protected by the CRPF.

Revoke orders, Capt urges Centre

Chandigarh: Taking strong exception to the Centre’s orders on Priyanka’s bungalow, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has urged the Union Government to withdraw the cancellation orders in the interest of her security and safety. He said the Central Government should reinstate her SPG cover and restore her accommodation in view of the threat perception which she continues to have as a member of the Gandhi family. TNS

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

Prior to that, former PM Manmohan Singh’s SPG detail had been withdrawn.

“Consequent upon the withdrawal of the SPG protection and grant of Z plus security by the Home Ministry there is no provision of the allotment or retention of government accommodation on security grounds to you. The allotment of type 6B house no 35, Lodi Estate, New Delhi, is hereby cancelled with effect from July 1. One month concessional period on the same rent up to August 1, 2020, is allowed as per rules,” Deputy Director of Estates GP Sarkar wrote to Vadra in a letter today.

The letter said failure to vacate the house on or before August 1, 2020, would attract damages and charges and penal rent as per rules.