"Sheesh Mahal should be declared tourist spot": BJP's Parvesh Verma attacks Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi [India], January 5 : BJP candidate from the New Delhi assembly constituency, Parvesh Verma on Sunday attacked the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal over his official residence "Sheesh Mahal," accusing him of misusing public funds for its construction.
The BJP candidate said that the 'Sheesh Mahal' should be declared a tourist spot and that the residence should be open to the public.
Speaking to ANI, Parvesh Verma said, "I have written a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, requesting that the people of the New Delhi constituency be allowed to view the 'Sheesh Mahal,' as it has been built using their tax and development money."
"Sheesh Mahal should be declared a tourist spot. The people of Delhi should know how the person who looted, betrayed, Delhi, who sold their dreams, got the 'Sheesh Mahal' built. I want the people of Delhi to see the reality of Arvind Kejriwal who is a mahathug," said Verma.
Earlier in the day, Parvesh Verma in his letter said that the 'Sheesh Mahal' residence has now become an important symbol of Delhi's governance and administration history.
"I would like to bring to your attention that during the tenure of former Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader, Arvind Kejriwal, the official residence was specially decorated and made grand. It is now popularly known among the public as Sheesh Mahal. The people of the New Delhi Legislative Assembly constituency, who have elected Kejriwal as their representative to the assembly three times consecutively, have a strong desire to visit and see this building. This residence has now become not just a place of residence but an important symbol of Delhi's governance and administration history," Parvesh Verma said.
"The public wishes to understand what the place looks like where their elected representative spent his tenure," he added.
The BJP leader further asked CM Atishi to open the place from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, so that the people of Delhi can see it up close.
"This will not only fulfil the public's expectations but also strengthen transparency and trust between the government and the people. I am confident that you will consider this proposal positively and take a prompt decision," Verma said.
Verma, a former MP and son of former Delhi CM Sahib Singh Verma will be facing former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Congress' Sandeep Dikshit, son of former Delhi CM Shiela Dikshit, in a three-cornered contest in the upcoming Delhi assembly election.
The assembly elections in Delhi are likely to be held in February 2025.
Congress, which was in power in Delhi for 15 successive years, has performed poorly in the past two assembly polls, failing to win any seat.AAP won 62 out of the 70 seats in the 2020 assembly elections and BJP secured eight seats.