What is ‘Sheesh Mahal’ row? BJP stages protest outside Arvind Kejriwal’s residence

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and workers are staging a massive protest outside Arvind Kejriwal’s Residence at Feroz Shah Road for the extravagant renovation of the Aam Aadmi Party leader’s earlier official bungalow, which they have termed as “Sheesh Mahal”.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva  called for the protest, demanding answers from the former Delhi chief minister's source of funding for the “luxurious” items at his Civil Lines bungalow.

“Delhi CM should answer why he decorated the ‘Sheesh Mahal’ with such costly items. This is taxpayers' money, and the people deserve transparency," said Sachdeva, as per a TOI report.

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Luxurious ‘Sheesh Mahal’

Earlier this year, in October, an inventory of the items installed at the bungalow was released by the Public Works Department (PWD). The list included high-end appliances, gadgets, and items costing over Rs 100 crore ($1 billion).

The AAP has denied the allegations made by the BJP, calling them politically motivated. “The BJP has unleashed countless investigations against AAP leaders, yet not a single rupee of wrongdoing has been proven. These tactics will not deter us,” the party said in a statement.

The BJP, on the other hand, has questioned whether the funds used for the luxurious installations at the bungalow came from the Delhi Jal Board or the excise policy.

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Vijender Gupta, the Leader of Opposition in the Delhi assembly, has written a letter to the Lt. Governor, demanding an investigation into the luxurious additions to the bungalow.

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(With inputs from agencies)