AAP Accuses Authorities of Forcibly Removing Atishi’s Belongings from Contested Flagstaff Road Bungalow
New Delhi, 10th October 2024: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday accused authorities of forcibly removing the belongings of Delhi Chief Minister Atishi from bungalow number 6 on Flagstaff Road, Civil Lines. While AAP referred to the property as the Chief Minister’s official residence, sources from the Lieutenant Governor’s office refuted this, stating that the bungalow is not designated as the Chief Minister’s residence and is available for reassignment.
Sources further alleged that Atishi had occupied the property without authorization. “Atishi trespassed at 6, Flagstaff Road. The bungalow was never officially allocated to her, even though she had requested it from the Public Works Department (PWD),” a source from the Lieutenant Governor’s office said. The source added that action was taken by the law, as property owners are entitled to act in cases of trespassing.
The bungalow had previously been occupied by former Speaker Chaudhary Prem Singh, and there are no restrictions on its future allotment. The source emphasized, “6, Flagstaff Road is not the Chief Minister’s house and can be allocated to anyone.”
Earlier, AAP accused Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena of orchestrating Atishi’s removal from the residence, calling it a politically motivated move by the BJP. A spokesperson from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) claimed that Atishi’s belongings were forcefully removed on orders from the Lt Governor’s office, describing it as “an attempt by the BJP to seize control of the Chief Minister’s official residence.”
However, sources in the Lt Governor’s office clarified that the property is managed by the PWD. Once vacated, the PWD will assume control, conduct an inventory, and then reassign the bungalow.
They also mentioned that the previous occupant, Arvind Kejriwal, did not officially return the property to the PWD after vacating it, raising concerns about possible motives. Atishi’s current official residence is located at 17 AB Mathura Road, but she had temporarily moved some belongings into the Flagstaff Road bungalow without a formal allotment. The PWD will reassign the property after completing its process, the sources added.
