Will vacate govt accommodation by Aug 1: Priyanka Gandhi

New Delhi: A bitter twitter war erupted between Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra over eviction notice to the Lodhi Estate bungalow where the latter is residing currently. The Union Minister tweeted that a powerful Congress leader has made a request to allot the same bungalow to another Congress MP so the Congress general secretary could stay here even after the eviction notice. Puri's tweet came after Vadra's tweet in which she called a media report "fake" that she has requested the government to grant an extension for evacuation of the government bungalow.

"This is FAKE NEWS. I have not made any such request to the government. As per the eviction letter handed to me on the 1st of July, I will be vacating the government accommodation at 35 Lodhi Estate by the 1st of August". The news report claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to a request to allow Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to retain the 35, Lodhi Estate Bungalow for some time. The report also claimed that "when the matter [of Priyanka's bungalow] was brought to Modi's notice, he said that her request most certainly be accepted".

Puri retorted: "Facts speak for themselves! A powerful Congress leader with much clout in the Party called me on 4 July 2020 at 12:05 pm to request that 35, Lodhi Estate be allotted to another INC MP so that Priyanka Vadra can stay on. Let's not sensationalise everything please."

Reacting to the Puri's tweet, Priyanka replied: "If someone called you Mr Puri, I thank them for their concern, and thank you for your consideration as well but it still does not change the facts: I have made no such request, and I am making no such request. As I said, I will be vacating the house by the 1st of August.. as required in the eviction letter."

Puri's reply came shortly afterwards and he left little to imagination as he described the so-called powerful Congress leader who he claimed had called him.

"The leader who called me, & many others, is at the very top of the Congress hierarchy...the same political advisor who speaks and acts on your family's behalf. It was when he requested that we decided to give a two month extension in good faith," he tweeted. "Would only request you to first sort out these issues within your own party before venting in public. Streak of entitlement and playing victim don't go well together," the minister further added.

Responding to him, Priyanka's husband Robert Vadra also tweeted, "This is completely incorrect!! We have not asked for any extension of stay. We were sent a notice on the 1st of July to leave in 30 days. We at a time of "Covid" have packed our entire household, and will leave a week before time".

Congress leader Randeep Surjewala tweeted: "Priyankaji fights for the cause of people and need no favours from your ilk. So stop bragging unwarrantedly. The issue is closed. And so that all know, did you allot 35, Lodhi Estate to a Congress MP or BJP Spokesperson? So please stop sensationaling your lies (sic)."