Patna: As the state government remains firm on evicting former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Rabri Devi from her official residence at 10, Circular Road, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Monday announced that it would take the battle to the streets as well as move the Patna High Court and the Supreme Court, alleging that established norms governing the allotment of official residences have been violated.
Background of the Eviction Notice
The Building Construction Department had first served an eviction notice on Rabri Devi during Nitish Kumar's tenure as the Chief Minister, asking her to vacate the 10, Circular Road bungalow, located close to the Chief Minister's official residence, now known as Lok Sewak Awas. She has since been allotted bungalow number 39 on Hardinge Road. After Samrat Choudhary took over as the Chief Minister, replacing Nitish Kumar, the department issued a fresh eviction notice. Building Construction Minister Leshi Singh stated that the process had been restarted following the change in government.
“There is provision for everything. She will have to vacate her present residence and shift to the newly allotted house on Hardinge Road where additional facilities have also been provided,” Leshi told reporters.
RJD's Counterattack
Launching a counterattack, RJD state president Mangani Lal Mandal, party national general secretary Abdul Bari Siddiqui, and former minister Shivchandra Ram accused the Samrat Choudhary government of pursuing “politics of jealousy, vendetta, and hate” to target the family of RJD president Lalu Prasad and humiliate Rabri Devi. “We will move High Court and Supreme Court because official bungalows and houses are allotted to MLAs, ministers, the Speaker, and Deputy Chief Ministers under well-defined parameters, which are being violated. There is a central pool of houses and bungalows with provisions for allotment, besides other standard parameters, which have been grossly violated,” Mandal alleged.
Questioning the Government's Stand
Questioning the government's stand, Siddiqui asked under which parameter bungalow number 7, Circular Road, had been allotted to former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. He also pointed out that BJP national president Nitin Nabin, now a Rajya Sabha member, continues to occupy the official residence allotted to him when he was a minister. Siddiqui further cited several other Rajya Sabha members and NDA leaders whom, he claimed, continue to reside in officially allotted government accommodation. Siddiqui also said that the Chief Minister has incorporated into his Lok Sewak Awas the 5, Deshratna Marg bungalow that was otherwise listed as the official residence for the Deputy Chief Minister.
Government's Response
Responding to the allegations, Leshi Singh said that bungalow number 7, Circular Road, had been allotted to Nitish Kumar on the basis of security assessment reports and the Z+ security cover granted to him on the recommendations of various security agencies, including the state Director General of Police. She further clarified that Lok Sabha MP and former Legislative Council chairman Devesh Chandra Thakur and Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief and Rajya Sabha member Upendra Kushwaha were paying market-rate rent for the government houses allotted to them. Displaying official department orders, the minister also sought to justify the allotment of residences to various political leaders, while noting that some occupants had already been asked to vacate their allotted premises.
