West Delhi MP sparks row with demand for SIT for action on Masjids on 'Govt land'

Actions to be taken against those not vacating 'designated accommodation': Hardeep Puri

New Delhi, Jul 31 The government on Wednesday asserted that firm actions will be taken against people "no matter who they are" and are continuing not to vacate the government bungalows allocated to them under 'designation accommodation' scheme.

"Designated accommodation is only meant for certain specified people. If certain families choose to keep on to a house or certain officials do it, I will not subscribe to that. I assure the House that if some people are utilizing loopholes in the system to do that, we will move against those people, no matter who they are, whether officials or Members of Parliament," Urban Development and Housing Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said in Lok Sabha during the debate on The Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Amendment Bill.




He said such exemplary actions were required as this is what is required to ensure "equity and justice".



"So, I am very clear that that will be done," he said in reply to questions from BJP member Rajiv Pratap Rudy.


The Bill was later passed by voice vote.




Mr Puri also said he will send "written replies" to all the questions raised during the debate when several members spoke on various issues related to eviction of the government residential buildings.



"If you want, I will even circulate them because I think we have a good story to tell them; and also,
it is in the interest of full disclosure and transparency that what we are saying should be made known to all. I will be sending the replies in writing as well," Mr Puri asserted.


Among others, BJP lawmaker Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma said some people have developed a habit of not vacating government bungalows.
In this context, he sought to put the blame on Congress President Rahul Gandhi and his family members for 'occupying big bungalows'.


Though Mr Verma did not take any names, his words implied that he meant Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his family members.


In contrast amid objections from some Congress members, the West Delhi lawmaker said several BJP leaders including the likes of Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and even Late Sahib Singh Verma (the lawmaker's father) had vacated their houses soon after they ceased to be authorized occupants.
"Even former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's family members had vacated the official residence within four weeks of his death," Mr Verma said.



Mr Rudy said former Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan also has vacated her designated residence allocated to the presiding officer of the Lower House.



West Delhi lawmaker Verma also demanded that a Special Investigation Team - SIT - be set up to take appropriate actions against mosques, graveyards and 'Mazars' those are erected on government land without proper authorisation.

New Delhi, Jul 31West Delhi BJP lawmaker Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma on Wednesday demanded that a Special Investigation Team - SIT - be set up to take appropriate actions against mosques, graveyards and 'Mazars' those are erected on government land without proper authorisation.

Participating in the debate on The Public Premises Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants Amendment Bill, Mr Verma said "Such things can happen only in our country...We have a culture of appeasement politics" - and said government needs to take actions against "illegal" construction of mosques, Mazaras and graveyards.

Amid strong protest from opposition members, the lawmaker said "even in my constituency and in Delhi, there are at least 500 such places where lands belonging to DDA, Delhi government and civic bodies have been encroached and there are illegal Masjids and graveyards.

"In this context, I have written to Delhi Lt Governor with a list of 54 such spots and sought actions. When I talk to other Members also, they say it is happening all over the country," Mr Verma remarked.

He said Union Urban Development and Housing Minister Hardeep Puri should immediately set up a SIT and "I will provide you information about encroachment on land under your ministry and under DDA".

Mr Verma, son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma, also said "Whenever I raise these issues, people and even media friends ask whether I will also talk about temples and Gurudwaras".

"My answer is I do raise similar questions....You give me a list of temples and Gurudwaras. If necessary take actions," he said.

Amid repeated objections from opposition members, Rajendra Agrawal, who was on the chair, said only what is being said by Mr Verma will go on record.

"When you get chance, you will get chance to make your point," Mr Agrawal told opposition members.

But in last five years, he has not found a single spot (in his constituency) where there is case of encroachment of land for construction of temples and Gurudwaras, Mr Verma said.

"These government lands could be made use for making hospitals and schools," he said.


Saugata Roy of Trinamool Congress said some of the remarks from the BJP member were not in proper tone and spirit.

"Such comments are Muslim bashing.....," Mr Roy said such remarks in House are "against the Constitution of India".

Mr Agrawal, who was on the chair, remarked he will take a closer look at the records of the speech.
and whatever objectionable will be 'expunged'.

MPs clash in LS during debate on Bill that seeks earlier vacation of Govt bungalows

New Delhi, Jul 31  The Lok Sabha on Wednesday took up a bill with the government and principal opposition Congress agreeing initially that it should be passed at the earliest to facilitate vacation of government residential buildings and bungalows occupied by unauthorised occupants.

However, the members clashed during the debate on The Public Premises Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants Amendment Bill, 2019 when BJP lawmaker Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma referred to 'three members' of a family occupying government residential buildings.

Without naming anyone, his words definitely meant Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his family members.

The BJP MP also demanded government should take appropriate actions against mosques, graveyards and 'Mazars' those are erected on government land without proper papers.


Agreeing with Urban Development and Housing Minister Hardeep Singh Puri that the Bill concerned should be approved of by the House without much debate, Congress floor leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said - "I do not find any substantiate argument to oppose it".


Earlier, Mr Puri said the government has been "very tolerant" to those who have not vacated the houses and that includes former Members of Parliament also.

"These people need to be encouraged, the word encouraged within quotes," Mr Puri said.

Mr Puri lamented that people under various categories "even after they cease to be authorized occupant" make delay in vacating the government allocated residential buildings.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, however, narrated his own experience and said the estate officers should not be authorized with unbridled power to decide on the disputes.

However, BJP lawmaker Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma said some people have developed a habit of not vacating government bungalows.

In this context, he sought to put the blame on Congress President Rahul Gandhi and his family members for 'occupying big bungalows'.

In contrast amid objections from some Congress members, the West Delhi lawmaker said several BJP leaders including the likes of Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and even Late Sahib Singh Verma (the lawmaker's father) had vacated their houses soon after they ceased to be authorized occupants.

"Even former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's family members had vacated the official residence within four weeks of his death," Mr Verma said.

LS passes bill seeking to tighten screws on illegal occupation of Govt quarters

New Delhi, Jul 31 (UNI) The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed The Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Amendment Bill, 2019, after a heated debate on lawmakers and ministers not vacating their official residences after they cease to be in those positions.


Piloting the Bill, Urban Development and Housing Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said at times some senior leaders do not vacate the house, saying doing so will present them in 'poor light'.

''Many people say 'dekhi jayegi' (we will see) and they are ready to face notices,'' he said.

At times, even ruling party MPs seemed to have different opinion with the minister, and Mr Puri later said he will write letters to members who have raised certain issues.


''I have good story to tell,'' he said in connection with reluctance shown by former members and ministers to vacate houses on time.

Responding to queries from members including Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Congress) and Rajiv Pratap Rudy (BJP), he said the 1994 amendment was more ruthless but the present regime is pursuing the matter with a humane approach.

To strengthen the argument, he also said after the Lok Sabha results were declared, the members and former ministers were given two months' time to move to alternative arrangement and it was a matter of 'pride' that several BJP leaders have done so on time.


To BJP member  Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma's demand that there should be a SIT to look into issues of land encroachment, the minister said such a panel already existed.

The Bill amends the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971 which provides for the eviction of unauthorised occupants from public premises in certain cases.

The draft law defines ‘residential accommodation occupation’ as the occupation of public premises by a person on the grant of a license for such occupation.  The license must be given for a fixed tenure, or for the period the person holds office. 

The Bill says if the person in unauthorised occupation of the residential accommodation challenges the eviction order passed by the estate officer in court, he will be required to pay damages for every month of such occupation. 

Earlier, the members clashed during the debate when BJP lawmaker Mr Verma referred to 'three members' of a family occupying government residential buildings.


Though he did not name anyone,  his words definitely implied Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his family members.


Biju Janata Dal leader Pinaki Mishra said the law for eviction of unauthorised occupants of public premises, including former ministers and lawmakers, should have more teeth and stressed that huge rentals should be charged if the unauthorised occupation continued.

Mr Mishra said he knows people who stay in Type VII or VIII bungalows but pay only a tenth of the market rent.


The Puri lawmaker in Odisha urged the government to bring what he said ''a draconian law as possible'' and an example should be set for the people.

Kalyan Banerjee of Trinamool Congress opposed the draft law for giving unbridled power to bureaucrats for eviction of unauthorised occupants from public premises.

RSP member N K Premachandran said he has no hesitation if any former member should immediately vacate the government house provided to him when he was lawmaker.

ENDS