Vijay Goel terms Dilip Pandey's allegations over Dharampura Haveli baseless, laughable

Union Minister Vijay Goel today termed the allegations of AAP leader Dilip Pandey as baseless, laughable and sheer madness. Goel further stated that in order to hide the number of criminal and corruption charges, the Aam Aadmi Party has resorted to this kind of wild allegations. Dilip Pandey was himself jailed for provoking communal outrage.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday lodged a complaint to the Anti- Corruption Branch(ACB) against Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Vijay Goel alongside his son and other concerned public officials of the New Delhi Municipal Corporation(NDMC) for misuse of power and causing huge loss to exchequer.
Goyal said, "Haveli Dharampura is a successful example of restoration of the cultural heritage of India which has been highlighted and appreciated by the national as well as international media.

Citing facts Goel stated that Haveli Dharampura along with other Heritage Buildings of Delhi was accorded as "notified heritage building" in 2009. At that point, the ownership of Haveli Dharampura was not with Vijay Goel and his family.

It was the Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia who had proposed the idea to waive off the property and other taxes of Heritage Buildings which the North Delhi Municipal Corporation had finally executed. In fact the Shahjahanabad Development Corporation chaired by Manish Sisodia in September, 2015 had pushed hard to exempt these Havelis of 100 per cent property tax, service tax, VAT, luxury tax, entertainment tax and stamp duty.

Committee headed by Sisodia even said, that, there is no revenue from these hawelis and heritage buildings and if we remove several taxes from these heritage structures, we could earn some revenue as well, for the Government. Taking one step further, Shahjahanabad Corporation has also praised North Delhi Municipal Corporation for lifting the property tax from these notified heritage and haweli buildings. The Shahjahanabad Corporation even recommended to other corporations of Delhi to adopt the same measures to promote heritage conservation.

The statement about the loss of Rs 25 crore to North Delhi Corporation is laughable. The truth is, AAP Government in Delhi has left its citizens on god's mercy. Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and majority of their legislators are facing heat for various criminal cases against them.

Goyal said this proves AAP leaders have stooped to a new low to hide their crimes and lies. Shahjahanabad Board itself, instead of doing what they themselves have recommended to save the heritage of the Delhi are merely playing as a political puppet by criticising those taking efforts to save the heritage. Entire world is taking every measure, much more than what Shahjahanabd Board has offered, to protect national heritages. States like Rajasthan is a good example to follow.

Goyal has also released the copies of the decisions taken by Delhi Government's Shahjahanabad Corporation in September 2015.