Active Stocks
Thu Mar 28 2024 15:59:33
  1. Tata Steel share price
  2. 155.90 2.00%
  1. ICICI Bank share price
  2. 1,095.75 1.08%
  1. HDFC Bank share price
  2. 1,448.20 0.52%
  1. ITC share price
  2. 428.55 0.13%
  1. Power Grid Corporation Of India share price
  2. 277.05 2.21%
Business News/ Politics / Policy/  Bungalow row: Ajit Singh attacks govt
BackBack

Bungalow row: Ajit Singh attacks govt

Ajit Singh attacked the govt for rejecting his demand to convert the bungalow he occupied into a memorial to his father, former PM Charan Singh

The government had rejected the demand that the Union Cabinet in 2000 had banned conversion of government bungalows into memorials in the name of departed leaders. Photo: Pradeep Gaur/MintPremium
The government had rejected the demand that the Union Cabinet in 2000 had banned conversion of government bungalows into memorials in the name of departed leaders. Photo: Pradeep Gaur/Mint

New Delhi: Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Ajit Singh on Friday attacked the government for rejecting his demand for converting the bungalow occupied by him into a memorial to his father, former Prime Minister Charan Singh, and blamed it for protests over the issue.

“There is a memorial in the name of Lal Bahadur Shastri. The residence in which late Babu Jagjivan Ram used to live was converted into his memorial three to six months back. A memorial also came up in the name of Kanshi Ram. So what is the logic of saying this," he said.

He was replying to a question as to how can his demand be met when the Union Cabinet of then UPA in 2000 itself had cleared a proposal banning conversion of official bungalows of MPs into memorials. The NDA government has stuck to its guns, saying what was done in this case was not Ajit Singh-specific but as per the rules.

“As far Ajit Singh is concerned, he is my friend. Ajit Singh also met me in between and demanded some more time, which was given. After the stipulated period of 80 days, one more month is given to everyone (to vacate the bungalow). After the lapse of that time frame, the government did not have any other option. “Hence, the officers did it. This is not Ajit Singh-specific," urban development minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said.

The government had on Thursday rejected the demand, saying that the 12 Tughlaq Road bungalow cannot be converted into a memorial as the Union Cabinet in 2000 had banned conversion of government bungalows into memorials in the name of departed leaders.

Singh, who lost the recently held election, was served the eviction notice and electricity supply to the sprawling bungalow was disconnected by the authorities last week. While his supporters opposed his eviction, threatening to disrupt water supply to Delhi. Leaders including Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Janata Dal United (JDU) general secretary K.C. Tyagi had demanded that the bungalow be converted into Charan Singh memorial complex in the memory of the Jat leader.

Naidu, had, however stated that all the procedures were followed in serving eviction notices on the former UPA Ministers who refused to vacate government bungalows. The RLD chief questioned as to why the ministers of the earlier NDA government continued occupying their bungalows for ten years even after 2004 when they had lost power.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!

Catch all the Politics News and Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.
More Less
Published: 19 Sep 2014, 02:32 PM IST
Next Story footLogo
Recommended For You
Switch to the Mint app for fast and personalized news - Get App