Sharma haggles for fortune to refurbish house, and gets it

NEW DELHI, July 26: Outgoing President S D Sharma is a tough bargainer when it comes to money. Austerity is a subject he has often talked o...

NEW DELHI, July 26: Outgoing President S D Sharma is a tough bargainer when it comes to money. Austerity is a subject he has often talked on but when it comes to furnishing his post-retirement house, he got the Cabinet to clear Rs 40 lakh when he is entitled to only Rs 2.5 lakh.

The Cabinet was initially against it it couldn’t make an exception for an individual. But Sharma insisted on the amount, even threatening that he wouldn’t vacate Rashtrapati Bhawan. Finally, on July 23, the Cabinet made a “one-time exception,” and the exchequer was poorer by Rs 40 lakh.

Behind this decision to underwrite Sharma’s extravagance, lies a story of persuasion, cajoling and threats.

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Sharma, before leaving office, had selected a Safdarjung Road bungalow. After inspecting it along with his wife and son, Sharma wrote to the prime minister asking for Rs 40 lakh for repair, renovation and furnishing.

Sharma was told that former Presidents are entitled to Rs 2.5 lakh. This is also the limit for Prime Ministers and Chief Justices of the Supreme court.But Sharma would not relent. “You ought to provide him what he needs. He has no other place to go,” Sharma’s secretary is said to have told senior government officials. The officials said the Cabinet alone could decide on enhancing the expenditure limit. “Do it,” was Sharma’s directive to the Prime Minister. The alterations in the structure and construction of additional rooms for the President’s son would cost the government a mere Rs 40 lakh, Sharma reasoned. Highly placed sources in the government say that the President’s proposed furnishing included costly decorative pieces and carpets.

Sharma, however, brushed aside the officials’ plea that a waiver of the rules would set a bad precedent. So the matter went to the Cabinet which flatly refused to entertain the President’s extravaganza.

Its view was that the limit cannot be raised just for an individual.

However, the President refused to budge.

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Gujral pleaded with Sharma to bring down the amount to a reasonable level like Rs 10 lakh. The President rejected the proposal again and, sources say, went to the extent of saying that he would not vacate the Rashtrapati Bhawan on July 25 if the Cabinet’s sanction didn’t reach him in time. Gujral who had many contentious issues to handle wanted no more controversies. So, a fresh proposal was placed before the Cabinet to the effect that the amount desired by the President be spent provided he pays a concessional fee of Rs 22,000 per year. But the President was adamanthe refused to pay even a penny.

And finally, on July 23 evening, the Cabinet decided to make a “one-time exception” for Shanker Dayal Sharma and spend Rs 40 lakh on his house. For the record, the Cabinet also said it won’t be a “precedent” for the future.