Priyanka now all set to shift to Lucknow
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday was asked to vacate her Government-allocated Lodhi Estate bungalow in Delhi by August 1, as she no longer enjoys the Special Protection Group (SPG) security cover.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has told Priyanka that if she stays beyond August 1, she will have to pay penalty as per the norms. As per records, she has accumulated dues of Rs 3,46,677- as on June, 30 2020. She has been issued the notice to clear these dues. Priyanka had been allotted 35 Lodhi Estate, a Type VI bungalow, in February 1997 for security reasons.
Priyanka is now all set to shift to Lucknow where she would stay at bungalow at Gokhale marg and devote her time to revive the Congress in the run-up to the Assembly polls. Sources said Priyanka had decided to shift to Lucknow at the beginning of the year itself but had to postpone her porgramme due to coronavirus outbreak. Her son and daughter will either stay in Gurugram or in Delhi to pursue their studies.
“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 is hereby cancelled with effect from 01/07/2020,” said the ministry’s notice. The notice was issued by GP Sarkar, deputy director of estate (A-1), MoHUA.
According to the current norms, there are no provisions for allotment or retention of government accommodation to those with Z+ security unless exceptions are made based on recommendations given by the home ministry.
The bungalow was allotted to her despite being a private citizen on the account of Priyanka Gandhi having been a Special Protection Group (SPG) protectee. The SPG rules allow all the protectees to get government accommodation. Priyanka Gandhi, however, pays rent for the Lodhi Estate bungalow. The Modi government changed the rules for allotment of government accommodation in 2015 and made only SPG protectees eligible for government accommodation. Before 2015, even those with Z plus security were entitled for government accommodation.
The security protectees will not be required to surrender their own houses in Delhi in lieu of allocation of government accommodation.