DOGRA HERALD BUREAU
JAMMU, Dec 14
Senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including former Member of Parliament Shamsher Singh Manhas, former Mayor of Jammu Chandra Mohan Gupta, and former Minister Bali Bhagat, have strongly criticized a misleading statement issued by a senior official of the Estate Department. The statement in question erroneously used the term ‘Eviction’ instead of ‘Voluntary Vacated’ in local newspapers of Jammu. In a joint statement released today, these senior BJP leaders expressed their deep disappointment with the Estate Department for tarnishing their reputation in the public domain by disseminating false information. They are demanding an immediate apology from the Estate Department for this unwarranted act.
According to the statement, Bali Bhagat voluntarily vacated the estate bungalow and handed over the keys to the Estate Department on 31st March 2023. Shamsher Singh Manhas vacated the estate property on 30th September 2023, and former Mayor Chandra Mohan Gupta has left the estate quarter on 12th November 2023.
The senior BJP leaders clarified, “We all voluntarily vacated the government accommodation, and there was no pressure exerted upon us by the Estate Department. We diligently paid monthly rent, adhering to all relevant rules and regulations. We were not unauthorized occupants, and our tenure in government accommodation significantly contributed to the government exchequer.”
The leaders further questioned the validity of the term “eviction” and pointed out that if eviction were indeed warranted, why were only four leaders targeted while others were not? This proves that the Estate Department has filed a false report.
They called upon the Estate Department to acknowledge the voluntary nature of their departure and express gratitude for their compliance with regulations. They strongly asked the Estate Department to issue a public apology for the misleading statement made in the media.
