In the midst of allegations regarding the renovation cost of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence and the imposition of a fine by the National Green Tribunal on the Delhi forest department for the non-submission of a report on the alleged violations of green norms at Kejriwal's residence, a video has resurfaced on social media. In this video, Kejriwal states that he plans to leave his current residence and seek a smaller space from the government. The caption of the shared video suggests that Kejriwal’s conscience was stirred by the Ayodhya Ram Mandir inauguration, leading him to demand a shift to a smaller space.
In the video, Kejriwal can be heard saying, "From yesterday, many of my fans, supporters and party colleagues have called me and texted me and they suggested that I should not no in such house. Thus, I am leaving both houses and will request the government to find a smaller home for me. We will have to be prepared for the scrutiny."
A social media user shared the video with a caption claiming that Kejriwal’s conscience has awakened amid the Ayodhya Ram Mandir inauguration and thus he is demanding to shift to a smaller space. The caption reads, “राम शरण में आदरणीय लोकनायक की मृतआत्मा ने उन्हें धिक्कारा अब उन्होंने मीडिया को बताया कि आदरणीय लोकनायक शीशमहल का त्याग करेंगे वैसे तिहाड़ जाने का ऑप्शन भी है.” (English translation, “The dead conscience of the respected Loknayak awakened in Ram Sharan. Now he told the media that the respected Loknayak would sacrifice Sheeshmahal. However, there is also an option to go to Tihar..”)
SouthCheck investigated the claim and found it to be misleading. The video in question dates back to 2014.
Upon searching with relevant keywords, the same clip was found, uploaded by NDTV on January 4, 2014. The video's caption indicates that Kejriwal, then newly sworn in as Delhi Chief Minister, received numerous calls from friends and well-wishers about the duplex flats allotted to him in Central Delhi. He decided not to shift into them, opting to stay at his own flat in Ghaziabad while requesting the government to find a smaller residence.
ABP News also uploaded the same video in 2014.
The Economic Times published a story on the matter, stating that after becoming Delhi's Chief Minister, Kejriwal was allotted two five-bedroom duplex flats. Faced with criticism for claiming austerity while enjoying the privilege of luxury flats, he announced his decision to give up the larger residence and move to a smaller place.
It is evident that a decade-old video of Kejriwal is being shared with misleading claims.
