New Delhi: In what could cause a big embarrassment to Congress leadership, it has now emerged that the rent of several properties occupied by top party leaders, including the official residence of Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi, has not been duly paid.
In reply to an RTI application filed by activist Sujit Patel, it has been revealed that the rent of several of these properties belonging to top Congress leaders is pending.
The RTI reply by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Development states that there has been pending rent against Congress party headquarters on Akbar Road of Rs 12,69,902 and the last time that the rent was paid was in December 2012.
Similarly, for Sonia Gandhi's residence on 10 Janpath Road, there is a pending rent of Rs 4,610 and the last rent received was in September 2020.
The reply further disclosed that the bungalow No. C-ll/109 in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi occupied by Vincent George, personal secretary to Sonia Gandhi shows pending rent dues of Rs 5,07,911, to which the last time rent was paid was in August 2013.
As per the housing rules which allows accommodation to national and state political parties, every party is given three years' time to construct their own office following which the government bungalow will have to be vacated.
The Congress was allotted land in June 2010 on 9-A Rouse Avenue to build a party office. The Congress party was required to vacate the Akbar Road office and a couple of more bungalows by 2013 however the grand old party has taken multiple extensions so far.
In July 2020, the government had sent an eviction notice to Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to vacate her Lodhi Road accommodation within a months' time.
Taking a dig at Sonia Gandhi, BJP's Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga alleged that she is not able to pay rent because she can't do scams. "Sonia Gandhi Ji not able to pay her rent after losing elections. It is obvious because she can't do scams now but political differences aside, I want to help her as a human being. I launched a campaign #SoniaGandhiReliefFund and sent Rs 10 to her account, I request everyone to help her," he said in a tweet.
Sonia Gandhi ji Not able to pay her rent after losing elections. Its obvious bcz she can't do scams now but political differences aside i want to help her as a Human being. I launched a campaign #SoniaGandhiReliefFund & sent 10 Rs. to her account, I request everyone to help her pic.twitter.com/H0yQJfY5VB
— Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga (@TajinderBagga) February 10, 2022
Bagga also shared a screenshot of money transferred by him to the account of the Congress interim chief.
(With ANI inputs)
