Shah’s stay at Gujarat Bhawan is an open secret among politicians and officials in Gujarat, sources say.
Former Gujarat home minister Amit Shah, over whose arrest, according to prime minister Manmohan Singh, BJP adopted a hostile approach in parliament last session, is enjoying the hospitality of Gujarat Bhawan in New Delhi.
“Amitbhai Shah is staying in Gujarat Bhawan for several months. Not many people know about it,” a top source told DNA.
Shah, a close aide of chief minister Narendra Modi, is an accused in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case being probed by CBI. He was granted bail by the Gujarat high court, but the Supreme Court told him last October that he cannot enter the state.
“Since then, he is staying in Gujarat Bhawan’s room number 3. He receives his lawyer, political friends and others who come to meet him,” the source said.
Shah’s stay at Gujarat Bhawan is an open secret among politicians and officials in Gujarat. Last month, when LK Advani hosted a lunch, Modi held two elaborate meetings with Shah at the government guest house - one before the lunch and a nearly four-hour talk later in the evening.
Gujarat Bhawan officials, however, neither confirmed nor denied the information.
Manmohan had claimed on Wednesday BJP wanted the government to reverse its decision on a former Gujarat minister arrested in a murder case.
In reply, Modi attacked the prime minister on Thursday, saying his remark on Shah was the “biggest joke of 2011”.
“The prime minister tried to associate Gujarat in his press conference to wash off his stains. This is laughable,” he said.
A home-away-from-home for visiting VVIPs and state government officials, Gujarat Bhawan is located on Kautilya Marg in Chanakyapuri, a few hundred metres from PM’s 7, Race Course Road, residence. It has around 81 well-furnished guest rooms.
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