'Forcibly' evicted from govt bungalow, targeted due to caste, claims Congress leader Udit Raj

Raj alleged that the action was "selective" and "motivated," targeting an opposition leader from a lower caste while "many upper-caste individuals continue to occupy government bungalows".

New Delhi: Congress leader and former MP Udit Raj on Friday alleged that authorities forcibly evicted his family from their Pandara Park bungalow in New Delhi, despite the matter being sub-judice.

There was no immediate response from the government regarding the eviction.

The bungalow is allotted to the former MP's wife, Seema Raj, a retired IRS officer, who said she had paid the licence fee till May 31 this year.

Speaking to PTI Videos, the Congress leader said, "You can see the belongings being thrown out of the house. The matter is sub-judice, and the next hearing is on October 28. What difference would three or four more days make?"

He said he would follow the court's decision, but the "harassment" is "punishment" for being Dalit and poor people's voice.

He alleged that the action was "selective" and "motivated," targeting an opposition leader from a lower caste while "many upper-caste individuals continue to occupy government bungalows".

“I tried contacting (Union minister) Manohar Lal Khattar, but he could not be reached. No higher official is available on call. Nobody is telling me anything," Raj said.

He termed the action an "atrocity" and said he would take up the matter further with his party leadership.

Sharing a video on X, Raj wrote, "My household items are being thrown onto the street."

Seema Raj said she had asked for time till November-end or early December to wind up her affairs and find another place.

"A superannuated officer can retain government accommodation for six months without any hassle. After that, I requested the Directorate of Estates to extend my stay as my father was critically ill. He has recently passed away," she said.

The retired officer alleged that an eviction notice was issued despite the hearing scheduled for just a few days later. “They came to evict us during court holiday so that we can't go to court and take legal recourse," she said.

On Thursday, Udit Raj said on X that officers from the Directorate of Estates visited his residence and informed them about the eviction scheduled for Friday.

Raj, who represented North West Delhi in the Lok Sabha from 2014 to 2019 as a BJP MP before joining the Congress, said he was "willing to vacate" soon but questioned the "hurry" shown by the authorities.'

"Why is the same yardstick not applied to others who are overstaying? I will not budge from my fight for social justice," he said.