Latest news with #Sheeshmahal
NDTV
07-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Delhi Speaker Junks Rs 94-Lakh Bathroom Makeover Claim, Congress Hits Back
New Delhi: A fresh political face-off has erupted between the Delhi Assembly Speaker and the Congress over the alleged Rs 2.35 crore renovation of the Speaker's official residence, including a reported Rs 94.69 lakh spent on bathrooms alone. The war of words has escalated after Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav dubbed the residence 'Shauchmahal', mirroring the BJP's earlier 'Sheeshmahal' jibe at former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. Speaker Vijender Gupta's office, in a formal letter to Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) President Devender Yadav, has demanded an immediate withdrawal of his remarks and an unconditional apology within three days. Calling the allegations "baseless," the letter accused Mr Yadav of misrepresenting facts and undermining the dignity of a Constitutional post for political mileage. The letter also disputed the Congress' claim that the residence in question is located at 9, Shamnath Marg, asserting that it is not the Speaker's official address. It warned that such "false and misleading" statements were unbecoming of a former MLA. Mr Yadav, however, has refused to back down. The DPCC said the figures cited were based on official documents and publicly available records, including the Delhi government's own website, and insisted the concerns raised were valid. "We stand by the facts. If public money is being spent excessively on luxury renovations, the public has a right to know," the Delhi Congress letter said, claiming that the Speaker, who once criticised the former CM's residence renovation as 'Sheeshmahal', should apply the same standards to his own office. The Congress also questioned the Speaker's outrage, asking "Why object to a statement based on government records? Why demand an apology for asking questions of public interest?" The party has framed the issue as one of transparency and accountability. "We have raised the issue of the expenditure involved in the renovation of the Speaker's official residence in the same spirit of accountability responsibility we share as representatives of a responsible national opposition party," their response read.
Mint
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Mint
14 ACs, 5 TVs, chandeliers: Inside Delhi CM's ₹60 lakh house renovation; AAP taunts with ‘Mayamahal'
The Public Works Department (PWD) of Delhi has floated a ₹ 60-lakh tender to renovate the official residence of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta with extensive electrical and furnishing work. The renovation will include air conditioners, televisions, and various electronic and decorative items set to adorn the Delhi chief minister's official residence at Bungalow Number 1 on Raj Niwas Marg in the Civil Lines area. The ₹ 60-lakh renovation tender for Delhi CM Rekha Gupta's residence has emerged at a time when the BJP continues its 'Sheeshmahal' attacks on former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal – an allegation instrumental in losing AAP its top seat in Delhi. Now, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) appears in no mood to let this one slide. The party took to X to pull a jab at Rekha Gupta, alleging that crores were being spent to turn the residence into a 'Mayamahal'. Congress, too, alleged that a 'Rangmahal' is being constructed for them while accusing others of making a 'Sheeshmahal'. According to the PWD tender issued on June 28, the proposed additions at Delhi chief minister's house will include 14 air conditioners, five 4k ultra HD LED smart television sets – four 55 inch units and one 65 inch unit – 10 flood lights, chandeliers, wall illumination fixtures and an electric chimney. Other fixtures include, 14 CCTV cameras, an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system, 23 remote-controlled ceiling fans, 16 wall fans and six geysers. A washing machine, dishwasher and a larger RO water plant are also a part of the renovation. Also Read | Sheesh Mahal tour? BJP to take reporters inside Arvind Kejriwal's former residence — what Parvesh Verma promised Extensive renovation and upgrades are needed to make the residence inhabitable for the CM's family, a PWD official told Hindustan Times. According to the tender, the bungalow will be fitted with 115 lighting fixtures, including wall lights, hanging lamps, and three large chandeliers. A brass frame glass chandelier with six LED bulbs and two smaller units will be used in drawing room. Additionally, the common hall areas will feature 16 large round flush-ceiling lights with a nickel finish, seven brass ceiling lanterns, and eight brass-and-glass lantern wall lights. 'This [brass and glass lantern wall lights] unit is the epitome of timeless elegance,' the PWD official said.
Mint
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Mint
14 ACs, 5 TVs, chandeliers: Inside Delhi CM's ₹60 lakh house renovation; AAP taunts with ‘Mayamahal'
The Public Works Department (PWD) of Delhi has floated a ₹ 60-lakh tender to renovate the official residence of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta with extensive electrical and furnishing work. The renovation will include air conditioners, televisions, and various electronic and decorative items set to adorn the Delhi chief minister's official residence at Bungalow Number 1 on Raj Niwas Marg in the Civil Lines area. The ₹ 60-lakh renovation tender for Delhi CM Rekha Gupta's residence has emerged at a time when the BJP continues its 'Sheeshmahal' attacks on former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal – an allegation instrumental in losing AAP its top seat in Delhi. Now, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) appears in no mood to let this one slide. The party took to X to pull a jab at Rekha Gupta, alleging that crores were being spent to turn the residence into a 'Mayamahal'. Congress, too, alleged that a 'Rangmahal' is being constructed for them while accusing others of making a 'Sheeshmahal'. According to the PWD tender issued on June 28, the proposed additions at Delhi chief minister's house will include 14 air conditioners, five 4k ultra HD LED smart television sets – four 55 inch units and one 65 inch unit – 10 flood lights, chandeliers, wall illumination fixtures and an electric chimney. Other fixtures include, 14 CCTV cameras, an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system, 23 remote-controlled ceiling fans, 16 wall fans and six geysers. A washing machine, dishwasher and a larger RO water plant are also a part of the renovation. Also Read | Sheesh Mahal tour? BJP to take reporters inside Arvind Kejriwal's former residence — what Parvesh Verma promised Extensive renovation and upgrades are needed to make the residence inhabitable for the CM's family, a PWD official told Hindustan Times. According to the tender, the bungalow will be fitted with 115 lighting fixtures, including wall lights, hanging lamps, and three large chandeliers. A brass frame glass chandelier with six LED bulbs and two smaller units will be used in drawing room. Additionally, the common hall areas will feature 16 large round flush-ceiling lights with a nickel finish, seven brass ceiling lanterns, and eight brass-and-glass lantern wall lights. 'This [brass and glass lantern wall lights] unit is the epitome of timeless elegance,' the PWD official said. In the kitchen, an electric chimney, a gas hop with electromagnetic burners, a 20 litre microwave, and a water purifier will be included.
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Rs 59 lakh-renovation for Delhi CM Rekha Gupta's bungalow
The Public Works Department (PWD) will carry out upgradation work worth over Rs 59.40 lakh at Bungalow Number 1, Raj Niwas Marg, which has been allotted to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta , according to an order. The work will be taken up to fix electrical and civil work, and will involve the installation of 14 split air conditioners worth Rs 7.7 lakh, five LED TVs worth Rs 9.9 lakh, and 23 ceiling fans with a remote control costing Rs 1.8 lakh. Fourteen CCTV cameras worth Rs 5.74 lakh will be installed, and the residence will also have a UPS system for power backup. Other appliances include six geysers for Rs 91,000, one automatic washing machine for Rs 77,000, a toast grill for Rs 85,000, and one dishwasher for Rs 60,000. A total of 23 ceiling fans worth Rs 1.8 lakh and, as part of illumination work, 115 lamps, hanging lights, and three big chandeliers will be put up in the house at the cost of Rs 6 lakh. The overall cost of renovation is Rs 59,40,170. Live Events According to PWD officials, repair and renovation work are on at the four-room-plus-hall residence, which was earlier occupied by officials of the LG Secretariat. On the same road, Bungalow No. 2-- earlier occupied by former minister and MLA Gopal Rai -- is likely to be used as a chief minister's camp office. Sources said the CM plans to first start her camp office to handle public meetings. In the run-up to the latest Delhi assembly election campaign , former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal battled charges of sprucing up his official residence with extravagant interiors. The house was dubbed by the BJP as "Sheeshmahal", and the allegation found large traction on conventional and social media. The BJP even made small replicas of the residence and mounted them on vans, which moved across the city as part of its election campaign. After coming into power, Gupta had said that she would not be living in that residence. Officials have also stated that the Bungalow at 6, Flagstaff Road in Civil Lines, where Kejriwal lived, might be converted into a state guest house. Most cabinet ministers in the new BJP government have already been allotted official residences in the city. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
Hindustan Times
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Political row snowballs over demolition drives in Delhi
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday got into a war of words over demolition drives being undertaken in the Capital. While the AAP's national convener Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the BJP-led Delhi government has gone back on its pre-poll promise of not disrupting slum clusters, BJP's Delhi unit chief Virendra Sachdeva said that Kejriwal had built a 'Sheeshmahal' for himself and questioned why slum dwellers were not given flats in Narela and Bawana, as the BJP has done. A demolition drive in Wazirpur on June 16. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo) On Sunday morning, Kejriwal led a protest rally at Jantar Mantar, wherein he attacked the BJP and accused it of 'ruining Delhi in just five months.' Urging slum dwellers to protest against demolition drives, he said they must not vote for the BJP or the Congress in future elections. Sachdeva, meanwhile, called Kejriwal's public rally a 'flop' and said the AAP leaders 'once again exposed their anarchic and unconstitutional character'. He said that the AAP leadership had been spreading confusion for a month, but 'the slum dwellers of Delhi have rejected this false campaign.' At Jantar Mantar, Kejriwal said, 'Prime Minister Narendra Modi (in run up to elections) had said 'Jahan Jhuggi, Wahan Makan', but what he meant was 'Jahan Jhuggi, Wahan Maidan'. His promises are false and I urge you not to fall for them in future.' 'We had left a perfectly fine Delhi. But these people have ruined it. There are long power cuts, school fees have been hiked, and their ministers and MLAs are busy looting Delhi,' Kejriwal alleged. At the rally, dubbed as 'Ghar-Rozgar Bachao' movement, he urged the slum dwellers to unite. 'There are 40 lakh slum dwellers in the city. If you take to the roads, they will be forced to stop the demolitions,' Kejriwal said. 'The Anna movement started from this Jantar Mantar and it removed the Congress from power. From here, a new movement will begin, and the BJP's hold on power will also be shaken,' he said. In his 16-minute-long address, he also accused the BJP of targeting AAP leaders by lodging FIRs against them. 'Stop this game of FIRs and work for the people,' he said. Hundreds of rally participants were carrying placards with messages to save jhuggies and livelihoods, while some held images of the Constitution. 'I have four daughters who used to go to school but now cannot as they have to work,' said Santoshi Maurya, a resident of Jailorwala Bagh, whose house was demolished. 'Around 500 of us have not been allotted flats yet, despite having all the documents. The documents which the government allowed me to vote with, are now not enough,' she added. The political row comes amid a series of demolition drives at Wazirpur, Taimoor Nagar, Madrasi Camp, and Kalkaji, among other places. Delhi BJP chief Sachdeva alleged that the 'AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Gopal Rai, and others, in the name of slum dwellers, incited their workers to storm the Prime Minister's residence.' 'Ordinary slum residents in Delhi were asking Kejriwal: 'You've built a 'Sheeshmahal' for yourself in ten years — why haven't you allocated flats to the poor in places like Narela or Bawana?' he said. Sachdeva said that the BJP government was committed to giving a better life to slum dwellers, who were compelled to live in 'hellish conditions' along drains and railway tracks. 'Just as we have resettled slum dwellers from Kalkaji, Jailorwala Bagh, Kalandar Colony, and Kathputli Colony, going forward, through the 'Jahan Jhuggi Wahan Makan' campaign, we will continue to provide new homes and new lives to slum residents,' he said. Delhi Congress chief Devendra Yadav said that Kejriwal was 'baking political bread' on the plight of the poor slum dwellers, as the AAP had failed to provide them a better life by implementing the in-situ construction of flats started by the Congress government. 'Over 11 years, the AAP government neither constructed any flat for the slum dwellers nor allotted the 45,000 flats constructed by the Congress government under the Rajiv Ratan Awas Yojna. Kejriwal is now shedding crocodile tears,' he said.
