New Delhi: In a sharp reaction to the Narendra Modi government's order to ask AICC General Secretary In-Charge of East Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to vacate her Lutyens bungalow by August 1, the Congress on Wednesday said the NDA government was indulging in 'cheap' tactics.
AICC Media In-Charge Randeep Surjewala said the government notice to Ms Vadra, asking her to vacate her Lutyens bungalow at Lodhi Estate shows the restlessness of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh chief Minister Yogi Adityanath .
He said that the Congress will not be cowed down by the arbitrary and dictatorial decisions by the government.
'The hate of the BJP and the Modi government against the Congress leadership is for all to see. However, now they have started resorting to cheap tactics.
The government notice to Priyanka, asking her to vacate her Lutyens bungalow at Lodhi Estate shows the restlessness of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
'We will not be cowed down by the dictatorial orders by a frustrated regime.'
Ms Vadra was on Wednesday asked to vacate her government allocated Lodhi Estate house in Delhi within a month as she no longer enjoys the Special Protection Group (SPG ) security cover.
'Upon withdrawal of SPG protection and grant of Z+ security cover by ministry of home affairs, which does not have provision for allotment/retention of government accommodation on security grounds to you, the allotment of Type 6B house No 35, Lodhi estate is cancelled,' a notice from Union ministry of housing and urban affairs said.
Any stay longer than August 1, the government order said, will attract damage charges and penal rent as per rules, the order said Ms Vadra was allotted her Lodhi estate bungalow on February 21, 1997 on security ground as an SPG protectee.
According to the current 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.
In November last year, the Centre withdrew SPG security cover to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, his son and Lok Sabha member Rahul Gandhi and daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
The decision was taken on the recommendation of a top security review panel that carries out a threat perception analysis of protected persons. The three Gandhis are now protected by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
While in August that year, the security cover of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was also downgraded, after a security review.
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