Congress is going to shift to its new headquarters ‘Indira Bhawan’. Along with this, politics has become heated regarding this decision. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused Congress of ignoring former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. BJP says that Congress has given priority to a family by naming the new office after Indira Gandhi.
BJP’s allegations
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala launched a scathing attack on the Congress, saying:
- “The new headquarters was named after Indira Gandhi, while party workers and supporters had demanded that it be named after Dr. Manmohan Singh.”
- He alleged that Congress is “always incapable of thinking ahead of a family.”
- Poonawala said, “Ignoring a capable leader like Manmohan Singh and giving priority to the name of Indira Gandhi is an insult to the Sikh community of Congress and the true heroes of the party.,
- The BJP spokesperson also pointed to the Congress’s misbehavior with leaders like former prime ministers PV Narasimha Rao and Pranab Mukherjee.
Congress’s clarification
Senior Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal and MP Manickam Tagore rejected BJP’s allegations, saying:
- The name was already decided:
- Bansal clarified that the name of the new headquarters ‘Indira Bhawan’ was already decided.
- Manickam Tagore said, “This decision was taken in 2010, when Dr. Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi was the party president.,
- Honor to Manmohan Singh:
- Congress also said that Dr. Singh has always been respected by the party, and this naming is only a part of the historic decision of the party.
There was controversy over the monument earlier too
After the death of Dr. Manmohan Singh, Congress had demanded to build a separate memorial, but the Central Government made arrangements for the last rites at Nigam Bodh Ghat.
- Congress alleged that the decision was an insult to the former prime minister.
- The BJP hit back, saying the Congress itself had failed to get memorials built for former prime ministers like PV Narasimha Rao.
Congress address changed after 5 decades
24 Akbar Road in Delhi remained the headquarters of Congress for about 47 years.
- Seven presidents of the Congress, from Indira Gandhi to Mallikarjun Kharge, led the party from here.
- Now the new headquarters of Congress is located at 9A, Kotla Marg.
‘Indira Bhawan’: Equipped with modern facilities
The new headquarters has been designed keeping in mind the growing needs of the Congress.
- Modern Features:
- Hi-tech press conference room on the ground floor.
- Reception and canteen.
- Soundproof chamber for TV debate.
- Properties:
- A big auditorium.
- Separate rooms for different departments.
- Improved systems for better administrative and organizational functions.
