BJP Criticizes Arvind Kejriwal Over ‘Sheesh Mahal’ Renovation Costs
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday targeted Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, referring to him as “Advertisement Baba” amid allegations of excessive spending on his official residence, dubbed the ‘Sheesh Mahal’. According to a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report, the total cost of renovating Kejriwal’s residence amounted to ₹33.66 crore, significantly surpassing the initial estimate of ₹7.61 crore.
During a press conference, BJP MP Sambit Patra criticized Kejriwal for the high costs involved in the project, which saw the tendered amount already 13.21% higher than the proposal before escalating to 342.31% more than the initial estimate. Patra highlighted that the renovation approval was granted swiftly, raising concerns over the tendering process.
The BJP also attacked Kejriwal over the disproportionate advertising expenditure on government schemes. Patra pointed out that the Delhi government spent ₹80 crore on advertising the ‘Business Blasters’ scheme, while the scheme itself cost ₹54 crore. Similarly, another scheme with an investment of ₹1.9 crore saw an advertising spend of ₹27.9 crore.
The controversy surrounding the ‘Sheesh Mahal’ comes at a time when the pandemic had stalled several public development projects. The BJP claims that the funds could have been better utilized for infrastructure development rather than the luxurious renovation of Kejriwal’s residence, criticizing the Delhi Chief Minister for mismanaging public resources during a critical period.
