Finally, Ajit Singh moves out of government bungalow

NEW DELHI: Former aviation minister and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Ajit Singh vacated the government bungalow at 12, Tughlak Road on Friday, days after his supporters protested in the capital demanding the house be converted into a memorial for former PM Chaudhary Charan Singh.

Urban development ministry officials said though Singh had taken out all his belongings earlier, possession of the house was officially handed over to the government on Friday. "Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has possession of the bungalow so that necessary renovation work can be taken up," an UD ministry official said.

The bungalow has been allotted to sports and youth affairs, skill development and entrepreneurship minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who is staying in a hotel.

Charan Singh lived in the bungalow for a long time since 1977 and later Ajit Singh stayed there.

The former minister made the demand for his father's memorial only after the directorate of estates served him an eviction notice. But as Singh failed to vacate the bungalow, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) snapped power supply. This resulted in protests by RLD supporters in Ghaziabad and other parts of western Uttar Pradesh. Even other parties supported the demand and had asked the government to consider this.