A day after the AAP leaders accused Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena of giving a contract for the interior design of the Khadi India Lounge in Mumbai to his daughter without floating a tender during his tenure as the Chairman of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) between 2015 and 2022, the Raj Niwas on Friday accused AAP leaders of "touting fake figures" on the development of a KVIC lounge in Mumbai.
In a series of tweets, Raj Niwas said, "The @kvicindia has issued a letter categorically stating that the entire cost of execution of the project of its Mumbai Lounge was Rs 27.3 lakh, contrary to fake figures being touted by leaders of a political party."
The L-G secretariat tweeted from its official handle, “The @kvicindia also clearly states that the plan of design of the lounge was done by Ms Shivangi Saxena "Free of Cost" and her name was put on the plaque as a goodwill gesture acknowledging her services, since it saved KVIC the cost of designing.”
While replying to a tweet by AAP leader Sanjay Singh, the L-G’s office tweeted, “@SanjayAzadSln g, It is to be known that the Hon'ble Lt. Governor, as KVIC President, had got the design of Khadi Lounge, Mumbai made free of cost (pro bono) on the request of his daughter, who is a designer. Contrary to your statement, there was no tender for the design, no one got the contract, but lakhs of rupees were left for KVIC.”
Earlier, the KVIC had clarified that a Khadi India Lounge was set up in the KVIC Head Office, Mumbai premises in 2017. The objective of setting up this lounge was to provide a stylish and in-vogue outlet for khadi and village industries products produced by various stakeholders of the KVIC that would give them the much-needed visibility, publicity and market reach.
The statement said that the design of the project was done by Shivangi Saxena without charging the board. "Expenditure to the tune of Rs 27.30 lakh approximately was incurred in executing the project. The aforementioned work was carried out by an empanelled contractor of KVIC.
A plan for the design of the lounge was done by Ms Shivangi Saxena, an upcoming interior designer, free of cost. Since, KVIC saved the cost of designing, as a gesture of goodwill, KVIC acknowledged her services by putting her name on the plaque," the statement reads further.
The L-G had on Thursday attacked AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accusing him of resorting to "diversionary tactics and false accusations" after he flagged various issues, including irregularities in the Government's excise policy.