Smriti Irani slams Arvind Kejriwal's 'Sheesh Mahal', says ‘spent over ₹40 crore for himself but…’

Union Minister Smriti Irani on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for spending over ₹40 crore on the renovation of his home but cannot provide the people of the Union territory with clean water or avail the benefits of the centre's Ayushman Bharat scheme. 

The union minister was speaking at an event in West Delhi's Uttam Nagar marking the Modi government's nine years in office. She said, "It's shameful that the Delhi CM spent over ₹40 crore on the construction of his 'sheesh mahal' (place of mirrors) but cannot provide clean drinking water and electricity to the people of the capital. He did not let the poor people avail the benefit of the Centre's Ayushman scheme,"

The Amethi MP also alleged that Arvind Kejriwal doesn't give money for development projects but is the first to take credit. Talking about the recently inaugurated east campus of IP University, Irani said the Delhi CM came to cut the ribbon at the university where she had laid the foundation stone and a similar incident had happened when he took credit for 400 buses for which the central government had given money.

Irani also attacked the ‘Kattar Imaandar’ image of the Delhi CM saying, “It is questionable that a person who claims to be 'Kattar Imaandar' spends 45 crores rupees on the renovation of the official residence. He spent 11 cr on his wardrobe, obviously, questions will be raised,”

The renovation work done on the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's official residence has often been a target of the opposition parties, the BJP and the Congress. BJP has repeatedly called the house a ‘Sheesh Mahal’ and has even asked Kejriwal to resign on moral grounds.

Former Delhi Congress Chief  Ajay Maken also accused the Delhi CM of spending close to ₹45 crore on items like Dior polish Vietnam marble, expensive curtains, and high-end carpets during the Covid-19 pandemic.

(With inputs from agencies)