Bhattal refuses to leave allotted house

Sources said the general administration department recently issued orders allotting the house to the new Leader of Opposition Sunil Jakhar since that kind of expansive house is given either to a cabinet rank minister or Leader of the Opposition,who also has the status of a cabinet minister.

But Bhattal is in no mood to leave the house in Sector 2 located in the vicinity of chief minister’s official residence. Speaking to The Indian Express,Bhattal justified her stand saying that being a former chief minister,she has a cabinet rank and therefore she could retain the house. “I have been staying in this house since 1992. Many people including former ministers,MPs,MLAs are still retaining their official accommodations for past many years. First,they should vacate their houses,why should I?’’

When told that former chief ministers do not enjoy the rank of cabinet minister and cannot retain the official accommodation,she said: “Even wife of former SGPC president GS Tohra was given cabinet status and allotted a house,so was in the case of wife of former CM Late Beant Singh. Also former Governor and former chief minister Surjit Singh Barnala is retaining their respective houses. Many MPs in Delhi don’t leave their official accommodation after they no more are MPs.’’

“Even MLAs have been given four acre houses in Patiala… I will only leave the house if I get one,’’ she said and added in same breath: “Politicians and officers are generally not given houses on rent.’’

Bhattal was allotted the house when she was a cabinet minister in the congress governments from 1992 to 1997. From 1997-2002,she was Leader of the Opposition and in that capacity she continued to remain in the same house. When Congress came back to power and she became Deputy Chief Minister in 2002,she retained the house for the next five years. Even when she became chief minister for three months in 1996 she did not move out.

From 2007-2012,she remained in the bungalow in her capacity as Leader of Opposition. The house has been done as per her taste,with beautiful lawns,cages of birds,area for keeping dogs,a grand swimming pool. The internal architecture has been changed as per her requirement.

Meanwhile,Leader of Opposition Sunil Jakhar confirmed that the bungalow in focus has been allotted to him. “When Bhattal moves out (of that bungalow) then I will think to move in,’’ said Jakhar.