Chandigarh (Punjab), November 1: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday came out strongly defending his party chief Arvind Kejriwal by junking the BJP's "Sheesh Mahal 2.0" allegations. Calling them false and politically motivated, Mann in a counter-attack said the Chandigarh residence being referred to was officially allotted to him under government norms after the AAP came to power in 2022.
Mann hit back at the BJP saying when senior BJP leader Captain Amarinder Singh was the chief minister, his Pakistani girlfriend Aroosa Alam used to stay in this residence. "Your leader now in BJP, his girlfriend Aroosa was living here. One foreign guest that too from a country (Pakistan) which has caused us (India) threats was living here specifically. She was a defence journalist, which means was she also living in Sheesh Mahal," he asked.
"For the past few days, the BJP has been running a propaganda that the Punjab government has built a 'Sheehsh Mahal' in Chandigarh. As per them, Arvind Kejriwal comes and lives here. I would like to make it clear. After we came to power on March 16, 2022, houses were allotted to the new government, including the CM and ministers. This is a letter regarding the same matter. Bungalow no. 45 in Sector 2 of Chandigarh is the Punjab CM's residence," Mann said in a video statement on X.
Clarifies Use of Camp Office in Sector 2
The Chief Minister dismissed the BJP's claim that Bungalow No. 50 in Sector 2 had been converted into a Sheesh Mahal for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal. He said the property serves as his Camp Office, mainly used for meetings with officials and ministers.
"About Bungalow no. 50 in Sector 2 of Chandigarh, regarding which misinformation is being spread, is mentioned as Camp Office/Punjab CM in the letter. It is a part of my residence, where the Chief Minister lives. It is a Camp Office/Guest House. I use it for meetings, hosting government officials and ministers. Will the BJP people tell me if they would call the CM's residence Sheesh Mahal?" Mann said.
The Chief Minister also targeted BJP MP Ravneet Bittu, claiming he has not bothered to vacate his government accommodation.
"They accuse my guest house to be a Sheesh mahal, but Ravneet Bittu is still living in a government house. Next, they might start calling our cars luxury vehicles," Mann said.
Captain's Advocate General Atul Nanda was using the camp office (Bungalow no. 50). Another bungalow from the same row is occupied by a Haryana minister. So, should we call that a Sheesh Mahal too?" Mann said.
BJP Accused of Diverting Attention from Real Issues
He accused the BJP of diverting attention from real issues in Punjab. "BJP has no agenda for Punjab. They run fake campaigns and circulate doctored videos. If they want to see a real 'Sheesh Mahal', they should look at Captain Amarinder Singh's house in Siswan or Sukhbir Singh Badal's residence," Mann said.
‘We Are for the People,’ Says Punjab CM
He added that his government remains accessible to the public, unlike the BJP. "We have been elected by the people. People come and visit us. We meet several people. They (the BJP) never meet anyone; they shut their doors. We are for the people, and we have come from them. We meet people, sign files, make decisions and hold meetings. You are saying that my guests stay in 'Sheehsh Mahal'. Stop doing this disgusting propaganda," Mann added.
BJP’s Allegations Against AAP and Kejriwal
The controversy erupted after the BJP on Friday alleged that AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal had been allotted a "luxurious 7-star government mansion" spread over two acres in Chandigarh's Sector 2, describing it as a new "Sheesh Mahal" built under the Chief Minister's quota.
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"The man who pretended to be the common man, Kejriwal, has had another grand Sheesh Mahal built. After the Delhi Sheesh Mahal was vacated, Punjab's Super CM Arvind Kejriwal had an even more splendid Sheesh Mahal built in Punjab than the one in Delhi. In Chandigarh's Sector 2, a luxurious 7-star government mansion of 2 acres on the CM quota has been allotted to Arvind Kejriwal," BJP posted on X.
(With additional information from news agency ANI)
