PM Modi Takes a Jab at Kejriwal: 'I Could Have Built a Sheesh Mahal Too'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday took a swipe at the ruling AAP in Delhi over the issue of corruption, saying he could have also built a 'Sheesh Mahal' for himself, but for him, the houses for the poor are more important.

"We see an advanced country in which there is a permanent place to stay for everyone," he said, promising another 3,000 new EWS flats in Delhi and a better quality of life. Sheesh Mahal is a reference made in Delhi political circles to the allegedly corruption-riddled renovation of the official residence of AAP leader and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

PM Modi said this while addressing an event after handing over 1,675 flats to residents of slum clusters in Ashok Vihar in north Delhi and inaugurating a slew of development projects, through remote, including two urban redevelopment projects in the national capital. In a symbolic gesture, PM Modi handed over keys of the new flats to five couples and called the new homes a reflection of the owners' "new expectations and dreams".

Recalling the 1975 Emergency imposed by then PM Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister Modi said when he went underground during the dark days he used to reside in Ashok Vihar to escape the government's repression.

"Coming to Ashok Vihar today has revived my memories of those days," he said. Prime Minister Modi interacted with children and women on the courtyard of the multi-storey flats named 'Swabhiman Apartments' before handing the keys to the owners of the flats built in Jailorwala Bagh.

The PM said in the interaction with the children, "I could see that their dreams were taller than the high-rise apartments." Addressing the beneficiaries of flats as his family members, he said though he hasn't built a house for himself but has been able to deliver four crore flats to the shelterless in the country.

He said, "I could have also built a Sheesh Mahal but for me, homes for the countrymen are more important." He told the beneficiaries to convey to others that they all will get a pucca house soon.

The residents of the flats showered flower petals on him and thanked him for ensuring facilities like lifts and playgrounds for the residents and the PM encouraged the children to work hard and contribute to the country's march towards Developed India 2047, said a resident.

"Modiji has not only given a roof over our heads but given a new future to our children," said a beneficiary woman.

He earlier inspected the facilities at the Swabhiman Apartments in Ashok Vihar along with Union Housing and Urban Development Minister Manohar Lal. Here, the Prime Minister toured newly-constructed houses for the slum-dwelling residents, who just a few years back, inhabited this plot.

Earlier, in his X handle before the event, PM Modi had described it as an important day for the development of Delhi.

"Today is an important day for Delhi's development. At a programme in Ashok Vihar, I will be inaugurating and laying the foundation stones for a wide range of development works which will boost 'Ease of Living' for the people of Delhi," he said.

PM Modi said these development activities will inspire growth and learning. These efforts reflect our firm commitment to nurturing future generations by empowering them with knowledge, innovation and opportunities in an environment that inspires growth and learning, he said.

Making reference to the multi-projects, which he inaugurated on Friday, "the projects include a state-of-the-art academic block at the Eastern Campus in Surajmal Vihar, East Delhi, and another one at the Western Campus in Dwarka.

In addition to that, the foundation is to be laid for the Veer Savarkar College in Roshanpura, Najafgarh, and is designed to testify to excellence in education with state-of-the-art facilities." Newly constructed flats were also inaugurated in Ashok Vihar.

The DDA marked the completion of the second successful In-Situ Slum Rehabilitation Project. This will help the JJ clusters in Delhi provide a much better and healthy living environment, which is rich in proper amenities and facilities to its residents.

For every Rs 25 lakh spent by the government in constructing a flat, eligible beneficiaries pay less than 7 percent of the total amount, which consists of Rs 1.42 lakh as a nominal contribution and Rs 30,000 for five years of maintenance.

PM Modi also launched two urban renewal projects -- the World Trade Centre (WTC) at Nauroji Nagar and the General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) Type-II Quarters at Sarojini Nagar.

The World Trade Centre at Nauroji Nagar has given a new look to the area by replacing more than 600 dilapidated quarters with state-of-the-art commercial towers, providing about 34 lakh square feet of premium commercial space with high-end amenities.

The project includes green building practices like a zero-discharge concept, solar energy generation, and harvesting of rainwater. The GPRA Type-II Quarters in Sarojini Nagar consist of 28 towers that provide accommodation to more than 2,500 residential units with modern facilities and efficient use of space.

The project incorporates rainwater harvesting systems, sewage and water treatment plants, and solar-powered waste compactors for encouraging eco-conscious living.

He also formally opened the Integrated Office Complex of the CBSE in Dwarka, constructed at approximately Rs 300 crore.

It houses offices, an auditorium, an advanced data center, comprehensive water management system among others.

The eco-friendly building has been constructured at high environmental standards, designed as per Platinum Rating standards of the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).

PM Modi also laid the foundation stone of three new projects at Delhi University worth over Rs 600 crore.

It includes the Eastern Campus at Surajmal Vihar in East Delhi and the Western Campus at Dwarka. It also includes building Veer Savarkar College at Roshanpura, Najafgarh, having state-of-the-art education facilities.