Government asks Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi to vacate bungalow by August 1

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday was asked to vacate her government allocated Lutyens' Delhi bungalow within a month. The move comes months after the Special Protection Group (SPG) security cover provided to the Gandhi family was withdrawn late last year.  

New Delhi: The government on Wednesday (June 1) asked Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to vacate her bungalow in Lutyens' Delhi within a month following withdrawal of her SPG protection.

According to reports, Priyanka Gandhi  has accumulated dues of Rs 3,46,677  as on June, 30 2020. The government has asked her to clear these dues.

According to an order issued by the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, Gandhi was asked to vacate her bungalow on or before August 1 failing which "it will attract damage charges/penal rent as per rules". The government had in November last year replaced the Special Protection Group (SPG) cover of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, with Z-plus security by the CRPF.

The Z-plus security does not entail such a facility and she has to vacate 35 Lodhi Estate bungalow, officials said.

There was no immediate comment from Priyanka Gandhi or her party Congress.

Gandhi was allotted her estate bungalow on February 21, 1997 on security ground as an SPG protectee.

According to the norms, there are no provisions for allotment or retention of government accommodation to those with Z+ security unless exceptions are made based on recommendations given by the home ministry.