Hardeep Puri, Smriti Irani corner Priyanka Gandhi on Twitter over Congress leader’s Lutyens’ bungalow eviction

Jul 14,2020

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was on Tuesday subjected to a two-pronged social media onslaught over her eviction from the Lutyens’ bungalow she currently occupies.

Two Union Ministers from the BJP government at the Centre took turns to corner the Gandhi scion over her alleged request to extend the stay at the posh address in the national capital.

A report emerged on Monday claiming that Priyanka had got an approval from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an extended stay at the 35, Lodhi Estate bungalow in New Delhi though she has been served an eviction notice to vacate the address by end of July.

She took to Twitter and charged the report as “fake news” and stressed that she will be vacating the government accommodation by August 1.

“This is FAKE NEWS. I have not made any such request to the government. As per the eviction letter handed to me on the 1st of July, I will be vacating the government accommodation at 35 Lodhi Estate by the 1st of August,” she said.

However, Union Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri slammed the Congress leader, citing an instance when a “powerful Congress leader” dialled him to request an extension for Priyanka.

“Facts speak for themselves! A powerful Congress leader with much clout in the Party called me on 4 July 2020 at 12:05 pm to request that 35, Lodhi Estate be allotted to another INC MP so that Priyanka Vadra can stay on. Let’s not sensationalise everything please,” Puri said.

Priyanka was quick to get back at Puri, recusing from the claims and reiterating that she was indeed abiding by the eviction notice.

“If someone called you Mr Puri, I thank them for their concern, and thank you for your consideration as well but it still does not change the facts: I have made no such request, and I am making no such request. As I said, I will be vacating the house by the 1st of August as required in the eviction letter,” she said.

Meanwhile, Union Women & Child Development minister Smriti Irani jumped into the picture to take swipes at the Gandhi scion, stating that “facts and Congress never go hand in hand”.

“Facts and CONgress can never go ‘hand’ in ‘hand’... The ‘fact’ that a notice had to be served & dues were not paid speaks for itself...The congress leader called you, Hardeep Singh Puri ji, coz high command ka order hai (it’s an order from high command),” Irani said.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development had last week slapped a notice on Priyanka to vacate the Lutyens’ bungalow before August 1 since she does not come under the ‘Special Protection Group’ security cover anymore.