Atishi accuses Centre of 'snatching' her residence; BJP claims Delhi CM deliberately avoided taking possession

'When they snatched away my official residence, I pledged to provide Rs 2,100 to our women. I will provide free healthcare to our elderly', Atishi said.

New Delhi: As election season settled in Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday alleged that the BJP-led union government has taken away Chief Minister Atishi's official residence by cancelling the allotment, while the saffron party countered it claiming that her “failure” to take its possession within the required time-frame had resulted in the development.

At a press conference, Atishi said, "an official residence does not matter to me. I will work for the people of Delhi from the streets if needed. When they snatched away my official residence, I pledged to provide Rs 2,100 to our women. I will provide free healthcare to our elderly."

She said the BJP government has thrown her out from the official residence for the second time in three months. 

"I pledge that I will take revenge for this insult by ensuring every woman in Delhi receives Rs 2,100 under the Mahila Samman Yojana. BJP can take away my home and abuse my family, but they cannot take away the passion in our hearts to serve the people of Delhi," she said.

If needed, she said, she will live with the people of Delhi and now would double her speed and work with double the determination.

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal posted on 'X', "within three months, BJP once again expelled Chief Minister Atishi-ji from the Chief Minister's residence. These people are showing their frustration by abusing Atishi-ji and throwing her out of the house. BJP is losing the Delhi elections badly and hence these people have resorted to such dirty politics."

Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said the eviction of a Chief Minister from her official residence by the government itself is unheard of across the globe and BJP should be ashamed," he said.

To a question, Atishi said she would send a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, offering an alternative residence to him and asking him to vacate the Prime Minister’s residence. AAP MP Sanjay Singh is willing to let Modi live in his residence, he said adding one should ask the Prime Minister if he would accept this offer and stay there.

BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya said there are “no takers for her lies”. He posted on 'X', "the allotment of ‘Sheesh Mahal’ has been withdrawn, as we learn, for two key reasons: first her failure to take possession and second CBI/ED investigation."

"Atishi was required to take possession of the house (CM’s official residence) within a week of allotment but failed to do so even after three months, in violation of rules. The Sheesh Mahal is under scrutiny by the CBI/ED, with a CAG report confirming corruption in its construction. When the house was allotted, one of the conditions was that Atishi must cooperate with the investigations. However, she deliberately avoided taking possession, leaving the house locked and obstructing the investigating agencies,” he claimed.

He also alleged that Atishi already has an official residence at 17 AB Mathura Road and has been offered two other “lavish bungalows”.