Govt spent public money on lunches: Vijender Gupta

New Delhi: A day after lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal cancelled the allotment of Rouse Avenue office for AAP headquarters, further trouble arose for the party as the BJP on Saturday alleged that the Kejriwal government had splurged public funds on lunches at chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence last year, a charge denied by the ruling party.

Delhi tourism and transport development corporation had organised two lunch parties last year on February 11 and 12 for 50 and 30 persons, respectively, which cost over Rs 11 lakh, Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta said.

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia denied the allegations, saying he had never cleared the file for the expense which was sent to him.

“The so-called food bill of Rs 13,000 was sent to me by officers for clearance a year back, but I never approved them. I sent the file to the then lieutenant-governor (Najeeb Jung) along with a cover note, stating that the bills are exorbitant. I also demanded a probe. For the 8-9 months, the file has been lying with the bureaucrats of the L-G office. And now, the file has been selectively leaked to defame the AAP before the civic polls,” Mr Sisodia said.

Union minister and senior BJP leader Piyush Goyal termed the alleged expenditure “mind boggling”. “Mr Kejriwal and his party have been misusing these funds for the last two years for its political needs and purposes,” Mr Goyal said.

The Opposition leader alleged that the catering arrangements for the lunches at Mr Kejriwal’s residence were made by a leading five-star hotel. The permissible limit under financial rules is Rs 1,250 per person for hosting a lunch in non-five star hotels, he said.

“No formalities or financial rules were followed before placing the orders. Two bills were raised by DTTDC for a total amount of Rs 11,04,357,” he said at a news conference here. He added that bill for the lunch on February 11 was Rs 6,23,605 and the cost per plate was Rs 12,472 and price of the same plate rose to Rs 16,025 for the lunch organised very next day.

“This is a criminal waste of government exchequer by the Kejriwal government. I urge the L-G to order a high-level enquiry into violation of financial rules by the Kejriwal government,” Mr Gupta said.

Claiming that the allegations are politically motivated, the deputy CM said the BJP and Congress leaders are flustered ever since the AAP promised to waive off house tax after winning the upcoming civic polls. “I dare them to release the file in which I have clearly made a note refusing to clear payment,” Mr Sisodia said.