Cancel state nod to Priyanka for house near The Retreat, says Himachal BJP

The MLA claimed a no-objection certificate from the President’s secretariat, too, was not obtained. He claims the certificate is required for any construction close to The Retreat.

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Releasing copies of the letter to the media, Bhardwaj said permission to construct was denied to the earlier owners of the same plot due to security concerns.

“The President’s Secretariat had specifically advised the state to put an embargo on constructions in the vicinity of The Retreat,” he said. “Just because Priyanka is an SPG (Special Protection Group) protectee, doesn’t fully rule out security risks to the property of President, barely few metres from the upcoming cottage.”

According to the documents available with the MLA, retired naval officer Devinderjeet Singh had purchased land near The Retreat in Chharabra village and had asked for permission to build cottages in the area.

Principal Secretary (Home) to the Government of Himachal Pradesh, through a letter dated 24-08-2002, sought the opinion of Additional Director General Of Police (CID) and the President’s Secretariat. The Additional Director General of Police (CID) vide a letter dated 12-6- 2003 informed the Additional Chief secretary (Home) that the residential construction of any kind in the vicinity of The Retreat, being VVIP zone, was not advisable from security point of view.

The Under Secretary (EAB) of the President’s Secretariat sent a communication to the Principal Secretary (Home) to the Government of Himachal Pradesh on November 11, 2004, saying, “I am directed to state that the responsibility for the security of President of India when the President is at the Retreat/Shimla is that of the State Government and the state Government should give a considered opinion in the matter. However, 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 cannot be ruled out.”

“How is it possible that Priyanka Gandhi got the permission?” asked the BJP MLA.

He demanded that the permission be withdrawn.

Earlier, the property had kicked up a storm when Priyanka had opposed making public details of the permission granted to her when activist Devashish Bhattarcharya sought it through a Right to Information (RTI) plea. When the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) ordered the government to make the information public, she approached the High Court that stayed the proceedings.

Congress reacts

“All rules and norms were followed. Permission of Rashtrapati Bhawan was taken before allowing construction to Priyanka Vadra. If people like former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee (who has a house at Prini,near Manali) or Priyanka Vadra decides to settle in Himachal Pradesh,it’s rather a matter of pride for the state”said Naresh Chauhan, PCC’s chief spokesperson.