New Delhi: The Congress party has been served an eviction notice by the Directorate of Estates, directing it to vacate two bungalows in Lutyens' Delhi by March 28. The party currently occupies two Type VIII bungalows under the General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) - its long-held national address at 24, Akbar Road (since 1990) and the Indian Youth Congress office at 5, Raisina Road (since 1976).
The Congress has however relocated to the new headquarters, Indira Bhawan, at 9A, Kotla Marg, on January 15, last year. Launching a sharp attack on the BJP-led government, Congress leader Pawan Khera alleged that the move was aimed at diverting attention from pressing economic concerns.
“Our 24 Akbar Road office and Youth Congress office have received a notice. What is the priority of the entire country today? The priority of the country is that there is no need to get stuck in the LPG lines… everything is stuck right now. This is the priority of the country... But the priority of the government is in front of you today,” Khera said.
Senior leader Jairam Ramesh termed the notice “revenge” for the Youth Congress’s shirtless protests at an AI summit. Echoing similar sentiments, Congress MP Imran Masood questioned why similar action has not been taken against the BJP despite its land allotment.
