New Delhi: Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Monday again took the “Sheesh Mahal” jibe at AAP over the residence of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, saying it can only be turned into a five-star hotel.
In an interview with ANI, Sirsa also slammed opposition parties for the ‘Maya Mahal’ jibe at the proposed cost of renovation of the house allocated to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, saying she is living in a normal house and the expense of all the arrangements is around Rs 50 lakh.
“The Sheesh Mahal can only be turned into a 5-star hotel. We are exploring if we can open it up for public viewing with ticketed entry. The Sheesh Mahal has been built in luxury. In the 12 toilets that have been built, toilet seats worth approximately Rs 1.25 crore have been used. Curtains, which can be remotely operated, are of Rs 8 lakh each…it can only be a five-star hotel,” he said.
“Delhi CM Rekha Gupta’s new official residence is formerly quarters for the staff of the Lieutenant Governor. Cost (of renovation) is around Rs 50 lakh. They (AAP) are shouting that ‘Maya Mahal’ is being created. These people only recall Mughal-era names. —Maya Mahal, they talk of Aurangzeb. They’ll only speak about the Rohingyas and Bangladeshi Muslims,” he said.
Taking a swipe at Kejriwal, the BJP leader said, “Kejriwal ji ke dimaag mein soch bhi Tughlaqi hai, zehan bhi Tughlaqi hai.”
Earlier on July 4, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta inaugurated her new camp office ‘Jan Seva Sadan’ in the national capital.
The Public Works Department (PWD) had earlier this month issued a tender worth Rs 60 lakh for the renovation of Rekha Gupta’s official residence.
The renovation work is focused on Bungalow Number 1, where the Chief Minister will be residing. A second bungalow, Bungalow Number 2, has also been allocated to her, which will serve as a camp office.
According to the tender, the renovation is mainly related to electrical and interior fittings. The bungalow will be equipped with five televisions for about Rs 9.3 lakh and fourteen air conditioners worth Rs 7.7 lakh.
The plan also includes installing fourteen CCTV cameras for Rs 5.74 lakh and a UPS system for Rs 2 lakh to ensure a continuous power supply.
BJP leaders had been taking “sheesh mahal” swipe at Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party ahead of Delhi assembly polls earlier this year.