'Hypocrisy': Hardeep Singh Puri slams Congress for its criticism of Centra Vista project

Jun 06,2021

Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday slammed the Congress for opposing the Centra Vista Avenue redevelopment and new Parliament building projects. He also accused the Congress government in Rajasthan of constructing 160 "luxurious houses" for MLAs at a cost of Rs 266 crore.

Taking to Twitter, the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister alleged that building bylaws have been flouted by the Rajasthan government for constructing the "luxurious houses" for the legislators.

"Congress opposed ongoing work on Central Vista Avenue & new Parliament but its govt begins work on 160 luxurious houses for Rajasthan MLAs for 266 cr. Building bylaws flouted. 28 mtr tall building allowed as a “special case” against a 15 mtr rule. Special Case of Hypocrisy!," Puri tweeted Saturday.

Last month, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had said that a false narrative is being created over the Central Vista redevelopment plan and asserted that it is not a "vanity project", but a necessity.

The Central Vista also got a green flag from the Delhi High Court that imposed a cost of Rs 1 lakh on the petitioners who wanted a stay on the ambitious but contentious project.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had also attacked the Union government last month over the central vista redevelopment project, terming it a "criminal wastage". He had asked the dispensation to focus on people's lives amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The redevelopment of the Central Vista, the nation's power corridor, envisages a new Parliament building, a common central secretariat, revamping of the 3-km Rajpath from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate, new Prime Minister's residence and office, and a new Vice President Enclave.