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- Published: July 14, 2020 14:53
New Delhi: Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi sparred on Twitter today, over latter’s Lodhi Road bungalow and reported request for seeking extension of the stay.
Priyanka Vadra took to Twitter to slam a news report which claimed that her stay at the bungalow has been extended following a request by the Congress leader.
The report said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a statesman like move had agreed to her request and allowed her to stay in the bungalow for some more time”.
Puri-Priyanka Twitter spat
“This is FAKE NEWS. I have not made any such request to the government. As per the eviction letter handed to me on the 1st of July, I will be vacating the government accommodation at 35 Lodhi Estate by the 1st of August,” tweeted Ms. Vadra.
This is FAKE NEWS.
I have not made any such request to the government. As per the eviction letter handed to me on the 1st of July, I will be vacating the government accommodation at 35 Lodhi Estate by the 1st of August.https://t.co/GkBO5dkaLs
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) July 14, 2020
Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri countered her claim and revealed that a ‘powerful’ Congress leader made such a request to him. He also revealed the date and time, when the powerful leader called him for extending Priyanka’s stay at the bungalow.
Facts speak for themselves!
A powerful Congress leader with much clout in the Party called me on 4 July 2020 at 12:05 pm to request that 35, Lodhi Estate be allotted to another INC MP so that Priyanka Vadra can stay on.
Let’s not sensationalise everything please. https://t.co/n1RQr6SGm6
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) July 14, 2020
Priyanka sought to take moral high ground by replying to Union Minister by claiming that she will vacating the house by August 1, as directed by authorities.
If someone called you Mr Puri, I thank them for their concern, and thank you for your consideration as well but it still does not change the facts: I have made no such request, and I am making no such request. As I said, I will be vacating the house by the 1st of August..1/2 https://t.co/jeHSZAf4MR
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) July 14, 2020
To this, Union Minister went a step further and dropped enough hints to conjecture as to who this powerful Congress leader was. Mr Puri also added that on his request, Priyanka Gandhi has given two month extension for vacating the bungalow.
The leader who called me, & many others, is at the very top of the Congress hierarchy…the same political advisor who speaks and acts on your family’s behalf. It was when he requested that we decided to give a two month extension in good faith. https://t.co/YSwNJc3cGD
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) July 14, 2020
Earlier this month, the Urban Development Ministry had asked the Congress leader to vacate her official bungalow at Lodhi Road as she was no longer a Special Protection Group (SPG) protectee.