Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi (SR)

New Delhi, Aug 20: A Lok Sabha panel, on Monday, cracked whip on 200 MPs who were not re-elected in the 17th Lok Sabha, and were overstaying in their official bungalows even after 2 months since the dissolution of the house.

The panel has served a notice to the non-complying MPs to vacate their official bungalows within 7 days. The chairman of the Lok Sabha Housing committee, C R Patil said that the meeting concluded with the decision that within 3 days power, water and gas will be snapped in these official residences. These bungalows were allocated to the MPs in 2014 and as per rules, MPs have to vacate their bungalows within a month of dissolution of the Lok Sabha. The 16th Lok Sabha was dissolved on May 25 and all the bungalows should have been vacated by June 25.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored the problem through a tweet. "When a new session of Parliament begins, newer MPs face lot of trouble as far as finding accommodation is concerned. I am glad efforts have been made to overcome this problem. Being MP means people from the constituency come too and they too may need accommodation," the PM tweeted.However, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma took to twitter to express his frustration. Sharma tweeted ''Prime Minister! your diktat to Former MP's  to vacate accommodation in 7 days is harsh, Arbitrary and discriminatory. Former MP's get a pension less than peons, secretaries to the Govt retain accommodation for six months. I ask you a direct question : Do you want Indian MP's to be rich and corrupt? Representing the people or Corporates & Multinationals. The honest ones have families to support. You are being hypocritical" Sharma asked.