‘Sheesh Mahal’ has seen many iterations throughout history. A mini ‘Palace of Mirrors’ is a first.
To give a push to its charge against Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal of spending “lavishly” to renovate the Delhi Chief Minister’s residence, the BJP has ordered 14 model “replicas” of 6, Flag Staff Road, Civil Lines, one for each district in the Capital – with plans to go up to 70, for each of the Capital’s Assembly constituencies.
It’s all hush-hush, much like the BJP accuses Kejriwal of being about the renovation, but sources said the models depicting the three-storey white bungalow and its alleged luxuries, with human figurines thrown in, cost around Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh per piece – with the cost falling, now that there is a template.
One such model – titled ‘Sheesh Mahal – Kejriwal’s Museum of Corruption’ – occupies a prominent place just inside the gate at the Delhi BJP’s Pandit Pant Marg office, visible to passersby. Apart from party workers who are flocking the premises for poll tickets, these passersby step in for a closer look at the model, enclosed in glass and placed on a 6X4 ft table, and click selfies.
Made of PVC and plywood, the model has detailing such as balconies, windows, doors, a terrace, a swimming pool, a badminton court, a pergola with seating, trees, and five toy luxury cars. There are three female figures on one balcony, and two at the badminton court.
Says Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva: “Earlier, we placed a WagonR model, the car Kejriwal used to travel in. But then we removed it because the so-called aam aadmi does not travel by that car anymore. As per people earlier with the AAP who have visited the house, Kejriwal only has luxury cars now… So, we placed toy luxury cars.”
Pointing to the trees placed on the model, about 30, Sachdeva says: “These represent the number of trees cut by Kejriwal for his lavish lifestyle.” According to the BJP leader, the number of trees cut for the house is closer to 70.
As for the gym, jacuzzi, spa and other such luxuries that a Comptroller and Auditor General report – yet to be tabled, and accessed by The Indian Express – has said the house is equipped with, the BJP has got around the complexity of depicting them by pasting general pictures of a jacuzzi, spa, sensor-based toilets, chandeliers, recliner sofas, massage chairs, TVs etc around the table.
Asked how they accessed details regarding the bungalow, a BJP source says: “We know several people, including former AAP leaders who are now with the BJP, who have visited the house. So, we sourced videos and pictures from them… We shared them with an architect, who then made the model using a Computer Numerical Control machine and other techniques.”
Sources said some officials of the PWD too were forthcoming with details.
The BJP is mum on the name of the architect, only saying that he is Haryana-based. A senior leader says, “The architect, who works in a construction firm, has 10-20 skilled workers making such models of malls and other commercial buildings… The first ‘Sheesh Mahal’ model was made when Kejriwal was still in jail (in the excise policy case) and the second was delivered when he was released in September.”
Another senior BJP leader says: “It took the team almost 45 days to finalise the drawings and deliver the first model. The next models were faster.”
The Civil Lines bungalow has been in the news for the past one year, since investigating agencies started probing the alleged “wasteful expenditure” on it. After he emerged from jail in the excise policy case and resigned as CM, Kejriwal vacated the bungalow. His replacement, Atishi, never took possession of 6, Flag Staff Road, and the PWD recently cancelled the allocation to her citing the delay.
Virtually launching the BJP campaign Sunday, Modi also attacked the AAP over the bungalow. “Those who brought ‘aapda’ to Delhi allege the Centre does not let them work and does not give them money. Their ‘Sheesh Mahal’ proves their lies,” he said, adding that in contrast, “Modi never even thought of building a house for himself”.
The AAP has countered this by dubbing that the PM’s residence under Modi is as grand as “Raj Mahal” and challenged the BJP to open it up for a public tour. “People deserve to see how Rs 2,750 crore has been splurged. The public has every right to see the Rs 300 crore carpets and the Rs 200 crore jhumar (chandeliers) in the Raj Mahal, which was built during Covid using their money,” the AAP says.
Sachdeva is confident the BJP’s ‘Sheesh Mahal’ models will be a hit now that campaigning is gathering steam. “The models will be taken for rounds in all the constituencies, and placed in markets, colonies, streets. Volunteers will tell people about Kejriwal’s ‘Museum of Corruption’ and how he used public money for a lavish life.”
One hurdle remains. With the model code of conduct now in force, Sachdeva says they plan to get the Election Commission permission to showcase the ‘Sheesh Mahals’. “Once the approval comes, the campaign will be launched in a day or two.”
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