RJD leader Lalu Yadav and 2G case accused A. Raja are among the 22 former ministers and MPs who are occupying ministerial bungalows.
According to an RTI reply received by Subhash Agrawal, several former ministers, including Mr Yadav, Buta Singh, Dayanidhi Maran, Pawan Kumar Bansal and Mr Raja, are still occupying ministerial bungalows allotted to them when they were in office. The reply reveals that they have been occupying the sprawling bungalows even after losing the entitlement.
“What is shocking is Lalu Yadav and Buta Singh have been granted special favour to retain these bungalows, that too on a special concessional lease rent against the directions from the Supreme Court. If reasons given by Lalu Prasad Yadav and Buta Singh for retaining ministerial bungalows on special concessional lease rent are valid then such palatial residences should be provided to common people of this nation as well,” Mr Agrawal said.
Three former railway ministers — Mukul Roy, Mr Bansal and Dinesh Trivedi — as well as former minister for external affairs S.M. Krishna, Mr Maran, minister for road transport C.P. Joshi and minister for water resources Harish Rawat are still occupying bungalows.
Mr Yadav has been given a special concession after he requested in January this year that due to diabetes and cardio problem he is under treatment at AIIMS.
“His son and daughter are also residing with him. His daughter is also under treatment and his granddaughter is also studying in Sanskriti School,” said his letter to the directorate of estates. He has requested to stay there for one more year.