NEW DELHI: With the rendition of Vande Matram and the national anthem, Congress matriarch Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday jointly cut the ribbon with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge to mark the party’s entry into its new headquarters “Indira Bhavan”, a modern five-storeyed building on 9A, Kotla Marg.
Kharge said, “Symbolising the 140-year-old glorious history of Congress, the walls here narrate the great saga of truth, non-violence, sacrifice, struggle and patriotism.”
The office, Rahul Gandhi said, should not be seen as an ordinary building. It represents the struggle of workers over decades, and the idea behind the building, should be spread across the country, he said.
The function was attended by CWC members, CMs Siddaramaiah, Revanth Reddy, Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, Congress treasurer Ajay Maken, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal, and state unit presidents, among others. A special mention was made for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Manish Chatrath, and late stalwarts Motilal Vora, Ahmed Patel and Murli Deora, for their role in the conception and construction of the new office. Sonia Gandhi had laid the foundation of the new office on Dec 28, 2009.
Congress has operated out of 24, Akbar Road, since 1978. Sources said it is likely to continue the possession of the old office, even as major functions will be shifted to “Indira Bhavan”.
Kharge announced that the library in the new building will be named after late PM Manmohan Singh. He also said then PM Jawaharlal Nehru had in the CWC meeting on Dec 31, 1952, proposed having the party headquarters in Indraprastha Estate, the same area as now.
Venugopal called the headquarters “a living museum of our party’s unparalleled contribution to nation”.