Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal jointly inaugurated the renovated structures and the historic Sheesh Mahal in Shalimar Bagh, Delhi.
🔹 Rekha Gupta’s Comment on Kejriwal
At the event, CM Rekha Gupta took a sharp dig at former CM Arvind Kejriwal. She said:
“The earlier Sheesh Mahal was built by the former CM only for his luxury, using the hard-earned money of the public. But today, this Sheesh Mahal is dedicated to the public, for their use and benefit. This is the difference between the past and present governments.”
Her comments were a clear reference to the new CM residence built during Kejriwal’s time, which the BJP often called a ‘Sheesh Mahal’ due to its expensive features.
🔹 AAP Hits Back
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) criticized Rekha Gupta for spending crores on the renovation of her official residence. On 2 July, AAP wrote on X:
“On one hand, people in Delhi are suffering from many problems – rising fees in private schools, electricity cuts, water shortage, crime, unemployment, and inflation.”
They added:
“In such tough times, CM Rekha Gupta is spending crores to renovate her ‘Maya Mahal’, with luxury ACs, chandeliers, TVs, and lights being installed.”
CM Rekha Gupta has been allotted Bungalow No. 1 on Raj Niwas Marg as her official residence.
🔹 What is the Sheesh Mahal?
The Sheesh Mahal in Shalimar Bagh is a 400-year-old heritage site from the 17th century. In June 2024, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) began the restoration work to preserve its structure.
Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said:
“Shalimar Bagh is a very important part of Delhi’s history. The Sheesh Mahal is a symbol of pride for over 400 years.”
He also criticized earlier governments for not preserving historical monuments, saying only a few had shown real interest.
LG VK Saxena personally took the initiative for the restoration, and ASI and DDA worked together to complete the project.
✅ Summary:
- Rekha Gupta inaugurated the restored Sheesh Mahal and criticized Kejriwal’s CM residence.
- AAP accused Rekha of spending crores on her own official house during a time of public struggle.
- The Sheesh Mahal is a 17th-century monument now open for public benefit.
- Restoration was done under the LG’s initiative with help from ASI and DDA.
