Bungalow row: Akhilesh sees it as BJP conspiracy
LUCKNOW: Former chief minister and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday said there was a conspiracy behind reports that he damaged a recently vacated government bungalow in Lucknow. Akhilesh said the ruling BJP is rattled after repeated defeats in recent by-elections. Akhilesh’s statement came after governor Ram Naik asked CM Yogi Adityanath to take action after damage was discovered.
LUCKNOW :Former chief minister and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav said on Wednesday there was a conspiracy behind reports that he damaged the VIP government bungalow before vacating it recently.
His reaction came a day after governor Ram Naik wrote to chief minister Yogi Adityanath calling for action against the former CM terming damage to the bungalow as “improper and a serious issue”.
I have been accused of ransacking the bungalow and stealing such petty things as bathroom fixtures. I am willing to return these faucets and all other things. But first the state government should come out with an inventory of items and present bills of the expenditure incurred on the renovation of my bungalow,” said a visibly upset Akhilesh brandishing two shiny steel faucets before media persons here on Wednesday.
The BJP government, he said, was rattled by its defeat and out of frustration levelling such ridiculous charges that I had spent ₹42 crore from government coffers on the bungalow.
“Some media reports say there was a swimming pool, which I filled before leaving the premises. I am ready to go there again. Can anybody show me this swimming pool inside the bungalow? Select pictures and photographs were taken in a manner to justify the ‘story of loot.’ I have definite information that all this was done deliberately to malign my image,” he said.
“I want to ask from the government as to why CM’s OSD Abhishek (Kaushik) and IAS Mritunjay Narain went to my house before it was shown to the media. I want to ask them to check the inventory of the house and tell me what I have taken. I am waiting for the report,” asked Akhilesh.
“Since a former CM was entitled to a house before the Supreme Court order struck down the provision in the law, I had got the bungalow furnished and renovated according to my own preferences and taste. It was not a house but a home for me,” he said adding that except for the custom-made badminton court he had left everything intact.
On Tuesday, governor Ram Naik had asked chief minister Yogi Adityanath to take action after damage was discovered in the 4, Vikramaditya Marg bungalow after it was vacated by the
former CM Akhilesh Yadav. Terming the damage to the bungalow as “improper and a serious issue”, Naik said the residences allotted to former CMs belonged to the estate department and their construction and maintenance was carried out from the taxpayers’ money.
Taking a shot at Naik, Akhilesh
said, “he is a good person but he is not following the Constitution. At times, instead of going by the Constitution he listens to voice of his soul which is guided by the RSS.”
The SP chief said the bungalow should be allotted to the chief justice of the Allahabad high court for its proper upkeep.