Former Bharatiya Janata Party president and Shimla MLA Suresh Bhardwaj has written a letter to Home Minister Rajnath Singh seeking withdrawal of permission given to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to construct a house in the vicinity of “The Retreat”, the summer abode of President of India, citing security reasons. “This could pose a high security threat in the future, since not only the President of India but the Prime Minister and other high dignitaries have also been frequenting this place”, said Mr. Bhardwaj who was also a long time Rajya Sabha MP from Shimla.
The senior BJP leader questioned how permission was given to Ms. Priyanka Vadra to buy land in Chhrabara near the President’s House when no outsider can buy land even anywhere else in Himachal Pradesh. The permission to buy land was given during the Congress rule of 2003-2007 in the State, he said. Earlier the land belonged to a senior retired naval officer, Commodore Devinderjeet Singh who was denied the permission to raise a house due to security reasons.
The then President’s Secretariat had written to the Principal Secretary, Home Department of Government of Himachal Pradesh that although the responsibility of the President’s security was that of the State government, when he was at Retreat, yet in terms of the long term perspective and consequences that may follow in granting such a permission and after taking due consideration, some embargo may have to be placed by notifying certain area surrounding the Retreat as “No construction Zone”. Otherwise, the possibility of other such demands snowballing on the strength of the present precedent could not be ruled out, said the communication of November 2004 from the President’s Secretariat.
Common boundaryThe Retreat Estate has a common boundary with the Khasra no. 264-269 where Priyanka Vadra’s property lies now. This was verified by the Inspector General of Police (CID) in his communication to the Secretary Home of Himachal Government. He had also recommended that no permission for a house should be given on this property ever. The committee comprising Chief Secretary and DGP had then rejected the request to raise any construction on this land, pleaded Mr. Bhardwaj.
He has written to the Union Home Minister that Ms. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is now constructing a huge house at the same location where the naval Commodore was refused permission and everybody else were forced to sell their land at throwaway prices since no construction was allowed here. Ms. Priyanka had bought about 4.000 sq metred of land in Chharabara.
He said Ms Priyanka should not be allowed to take advantage of her family status and the security of President of India should not be compromised. The permission should be withdrawn immediately, he pleaded.
