Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has strongly responded to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) claims that a residence in Chandigarh is a “Sheesh Mahal” with seven-star facilities. Mann clarified that the property is a government accommodation and serves as his official camp office. He accused the BJP of engaging in “dirty propaganda” and lacking a genuine agenda for Punjab.
Addressing the allegations, Mann suggested that the BJP should instead examine the private residences of their own leaders, specifically mentioning former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s home in Mullanpur. The BJP had previously claimed that AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal was being provided with a “Sheesh Mahal 2.0” in Punjab using taxpayer money, an accusation Mann dismissed as false and politically motivated.
Mann asserted that the BJP’s attacks stem from the fact that the people of Punjab rejected them in the 2022 elections and that the party is attempting to divert attention from the Aam Aadmi Party’s growing influence in Gujarat. He reiterated that the house in question, Kothi No. 50 in Sector 2, Chandigarh, is officially designated as the chief minister’s camp office and guest house, not a personal luxury residence. He also pointed out that government accommodations of similar nature are used by other state ministers.
Further, Mann alleged that Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu is illegally occupying a government house in Chandigarh that was meant to be converted into a guest house. He also contrasted this with the AAP’s lack of a party office in Chandigarh, while claiming the BJP has built a lavish party office in Delhi.