JOIN USPriyanka Gandhi, Hardeep Singh Puri face-off over Lutyen's bungalow
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday engaged in a war of words with the Modi government over a proposal to allow her to extend her stay in the Lutyen’s Zone bungalow that she has been asked to vacate by August 1.
As Priyanka called reports of her being granted an extended stay in the 35, Lodhi Estate bungalow “fake news”, Housing Minister Hardeep Singh Puri called her out saying a two-month extension was granted at the behest of a “powerful Congress leader” who enjoyed much clout in the party.
“Would only request you to first sort out these issues within your own party before venting out in public. Streak of entitlement and playing victim don’t go well together,” Puri said on Twitter.
He said the Congress leader had called him on July 4 with a request to allot 35, Lodhi Estate bungalow to another Congress parliamentarian so that Priyanka could continue to stay there.
Facts speak for themselves!
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) July 14, 2020
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
Priyanka hit back at Puri insisting that she had made no such request and would be vacating the bungalow by August 1.
“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 as required in the eviction letter," she said referring to the bungalow she had been staying since 1997 but was asked to vacate earlier this month following the withdrawal of SPG security.
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
Puri hit back saying that the Congress leader who had called him was “at the very top of the Congress hierarchy” and a “political advisor who speaks and acts on your family’s behalf”, but stopped short of naming the person.
“It was when he requested that we decided to give a two month extension in good faith,” Puri added.
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
Textiles Minister Smriti Irani, who defeated Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha elections from Amethi, remarked that the Congress leader had called Puri after he was ordered to do so by the “high command”.
Facts and CONgress can never go ‘hand’ in ‘hand’... The ‘fact’ that a notice had to be served & dues were not paid speaks for itself...The congress leader called you @HardeepSPuri ji coz high command ka order hai ☺️ https://t.co/5k8SrIt29o
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) July 14, 2020
Congress chief spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala hit out at Puri saying she needed “no favours from your ilk” and asked him to “stop bragging unwarrantedly”.
Dear Mr. Puri,
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) July 14, 2020
Priyankaji fights for the cause of people and need no favours from your ilk. So stop bragging unwarrantedly. The issue is closed.
And so that all know, did you allot 35, Lodhi Estate to a Congress MP or BJP Spokesperson?
So pl stop sensationaling ur lies. https://t.co/8Ysvea4EDW
Surjewala also wondered whether the bungalow was allotted to a Congress MP or a BJP spokesperson.