New Delhi: India's Home Minister Rajnath Singh doesn't have an official home because the bungalow allotted to him in Delhi has not been vacated by its previous occupant, a former minister.
Mr Singh may not have to wait much longer. Eviction notices have been served to 16 former ministers of the previous Congress-led UPA government who have overstayed their welcome in government bungalows even though they are not MPs anymore.
These politicians owe nearly Rs. 21 lakh as penalties for "unauthorised stay", Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu said in a written reply Parliament. If they don't have a sound reason for staying on, they may even be forced out in 15 days.
The "hall of shame" includes former union ministers Jaipal Reddy, Sachin Pilot, Farooq Abdullah, Kapil Sibal and Ajit Singh.
What they owe the government ranges from Rs 53,250 for former Congress MP Lalchand Kataria, to Rs 2, 43, 678 for Jaipal Reddy, who was entitled to a "type 8" ministerial bungalow.
Out of 43 former ministers, only six vacated in time.
The ruling BJP says some 315 new MPs have no official house yet and some of them are entitled to these bungalows.
The UPA lost power after two terms in the recent national election that saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP storm to power.
Mr Naidu said another 21 former ministers are staying in smaller bungalows and have been given 15 days to move into new homes they are entitled to as members of different parliamentary committees.
"It is not my personal doing. There was a question in Parliament and my ministry has replied on that," Mr Naidu told reporters later.
"This is a sensitive issue. We have not given eviction notices to former ministers who are still MPs. We have only pointed to them that they are no longer eligible for general pool bungalows...we hope they understand," the minister added.
Congress leader Oscar Fernandes countered, "They should talk to the ministers. It should be done nicely."
Clinging to government accommodation is an offence that seems to span the political spectrum.
The urban development ministry's data shows that 638 prime government homes are illegally occupied, for periods ranging from one month to 21 years.
Mr Singh may not have to wait much longer. Eviction notices have been served to 16 former ministers of the previous Congress-led UPA government who have overstayed their welcome in government bungalows even though they are not MPs anymore.
These politicians owe nearly Rs. 21 lakh as penalties for "unauthorised stay", Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu said in a written reply Parliament. If they don't have a sound reason for staying on, they may even be forced out in 15 days.
What they owe the government ranges from Rs 53,250 for former Congress MP Lalchand Kataria, to Rs 2, 43, 678 for Jaipal Reddy, who was entitled to a "type 8" ministerial bungalow.
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The ruling BJP says some 315 new MPs have no official house yet and some of them are entitled to these bungalows.
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Mr Naidu said another 21 former ministers are staying in smaller bungalows and have been given 15 days to move into new homes they are entitled to as members of different parliamentary committees.
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"This is a sensitive issue. We have not given eviction notices to former ministers who are still MPs. We have only pointed to them that they are no longer eligible for general pool bungalows...we hope they understand," the minister added.
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Clinging to government accommodation is an offence that seems to span the political spectrum.
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