New Delhi, July 7 (IANS) Minister of State (MoS) and Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Harsh Malhotra on Tuesday hit out at the former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for speaking on every issue — from the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) examination to fuel quality but remaining silent on the growing drug menace and crime in election-bound Punjab where the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is in power.

Malhotra said that it is astonishing for the people of Delhi and the country to see AAP Convenor Kejriwal questioning fuel quality despite having made virtually no contribution during his 10 years in power towards making the city pollution-free or strengthening the public transport system.

Malhotra, who is also the Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, said that as the Punjab Assembly elections approach, Kejriwal’s fear of losing power is becoming increasingly visible.

The Delhi BJP President said, in an effort to remain politically relevant in the media, Kejriwal is speaking on every issue — from the NEET examination to fuel quality but continues to remain silent on the growing drug menace and crime in Punjab, as well as the Punjab Chief Minister’s (Bhagwant Mann’s) alleged disrespect towards the Sikh faith.

Earlier, Delhi Public Works Department Minister Parvesh Verma said that the former Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal’s erstwhile official residence or “Sheesh Mahal”, situated in the Civil Lines area in North Delhi, will be converted into a state guest house.

Minister Parvesh Verma said a “Rang Mahal” will be developed on the premises to accommodate government guests and dignitaries.

The Delhi BJP had turned the alleged corruption in the renovation of Kejriwal’s erstwhile official residence into a major poll plank in the state Assembly elections last year, storming to power after a hiatus of 27 years.

Even in the past, Minister Parvesh Verma targeted the then Chief Minister and AAP Convenor Arvind Kejriwal over the wastage of public money on the renovation of his erstwhile official Chief Minister’s residence or “Sheesh Mahal”.

In a video shared on social media, the Delhi Minister described Kejriwal as “Delhi’s Rehman Dakait” – a comparison with an underworld character in the Bollywood blockbuster “Dhurandhar”.

The video depicted the lavish facilities created for the then Chief Minister Kejriwal at his official residence.

Calling Kejriwal “Delhi’s Rehman Dakait”, Minister Parvesh Verma also released a spoof video titled “Dhurandhar PART 3”.

In the video, Parvesh Verma took the viewer on a guided tour of the former Chief Minister Kejriwal’s residence in the Civil Lines area that stands sealed at present.

He also showed the bungalow’s Rs 1.5 crore kitchen, Rs 95 lakh switches, Rs 88 lakh chandelier, and Rs 28 lakh TV, highlighting that the monthly electricity bill of the bungalow was Rs 5 lakh.

Criticising the AAP Convenor for his corrupt practices, Minister Parvesh Verma said, “A person who misused photos of Mahatma Gandhi and Shaheed Bhagat Singh and circulated an affidavit swearing that he would never accept official accommodation spent crores of rupees on silk carpets, bathroom fittings, TV, Vietnam marble floor and automatic curtains.”

–IANS

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