Now, Foreign Correspondents' Club asked to vacate bungalow

 

New Delhi: After the Indian Women Press Corps (IWPC), the Foreign Correspondents' Club (FCC)  has also been served an eviction notice. The club has been asked to vacate the bungalow allotted to them by July 31.

The FCC was recently at the centre of controversy for refusing to host an event connected to 'The Kashmir Files' director Vivek Agnihotri.  The notice is dated May 4, which is the same as the IWPC. The FCC occupies bungalow No. AB 19, Mathura Road, New Delhi.

In a letter to the FCC president on May 4, the Directorate of Estates under the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry said it has, however, extended the period of retention of the bungalow located on Mathura Road till July 31.

 "I am directed to convey the in-principle approval of the competent authority for retention of government accommodation bungalow no.

AB-19, Mathura Road, New Delhi allotted to Foreign Correspondents' Club of South Asia for a period of up to July 31, 2022, on the prevailing terms & conditions," Deputy Director (Estates) Hari MP said in the letter.

 The letter also asked the FCC president to find suitable accommodation and arrange to vacate the aforesaid house on or before July 31.

 Reacting to the government's move, FCC president Munish Gupta said, "We hadn't formally received the letter until yesterday. We will examine and respond. It is our understanding that such notices have been sent to FCC and others also in the past."

In its notice sent to IWPC, the Directorate of Estate says, "I am directed to convey by the principal approval of the competent authority for retention of government accommodation Bungalow No. 5, Windsor Place, allotted to Indian Women's Press Corps, for a period up to 31 July 2022." It's clear from the letter that no alternate accommodation will be provided to the IWPC by the government.

However, Shobhna Jain, President of IWPC, said, "This is routine procedural work. For the last 25 years, we have been applying for renewal whenever it is about to expire, and there is nothing to read in between the lines." (Agencies)