Click to play videoNew Delhi: Republican Party of India Chief Ramdas Athawle was on Friday evicted from his MP’s bungalow in New Delhi, four months after he lost the Lok Sabha elections.
The authorities had sent Athawle, a Dalit leader, several reminders that he has to vacate the house but he allegedly ignored them. Athawle’s belongings - kitchen drawers, book shelves and closets--were emptied out from his bungalow at 8A Lodhi Estate.
Athawle’s angry supporters attacked the newly inaugurated Congress office in Mumbai. Athawle has just broken away from the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party combine in Maharashtra, weeks ahead of the polls and he could cost the alliance crucial Dalit votes in the state.
He was given time till September 3 to evict his Delhi bungalow. Officials of the Urban Development Ministry say that they had no choice but to throw out his belongings. He was the second former MP to be evicted after the Lok Sabha elections.
Athawle alleges he was evicted because he is a Dalit.
“This is political revenge. For last 19 years I was with the Congress party. I had told the chairman of the housing committee that I am busy with (Maharashtra) elections and would vacate my bungalow on October 14 but I don’t know why they have taken this action,” Athawle told CNN-IBN.
“I know I can’t stay in the bungalow but I told the committee chairman and (Urban Development Minister) Jaipal Reddy that I would vacate after one month. I don’t know why they have taken this action,” he said.
BJP leader Nand Kumar Sai was evicted from his bungalow in New Delhi's South Avenue. But the Government’s target seems selective. CNN-IBN has reported that eight former ministers of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) are still living illegally in their Government bungalows after losing elections.
Many would ask it is fair that the Government should evict former MPs of Opposition parties when former ministers are still enjoying the comforts of their bungalows.
(With inputs from Kajal Iyer)
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