The Urban Development Ministry has served a notice on the Congress asking it to vacate its headquarters at 24, Akbar Road in lutyens’ zone. The party confirmed receiving the notice. “Yes, we have received a notice and have replied to the UDM,” senior Congress leader and party treasurer Motilal Vohra said.
Sources said while the Congress has sought three years more to vacate these bungalows, Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu has directed the concerned authorities to examine the request. According to the UD Ministry, the Congress was required to vacate by June 2013 four bungalows that are in their possession.
These four bungalows are at 24, Akbar Road, 26, Akbar Road, 5, Raisina Road and C-II/109, Chanakyapuri. While 24, Akbar Road houses the AICC and offices of all senior functionaries of the party, including Sonia Gandhi, 26, Akbar Road bungalow has been converted into the party’s Sewa Dal unit office. The 5, Raisina Road is the national office of Indian Youth Congress.
“It is because the Congress was handed over possession of land at 9-A, Rouse Avenue in June 2010 as per the policy on Allotment of land to Political Parties for building their own party offices, the party was required to vacate the four bungalows within three years i.e. June, 2013, which was however not done,” said a UD Ministry Press note on Thursday evening which denied that the Government has served an eviction notice to the Congress as of now.
The UD Ministry in January 2015 informed the Congress that the said allocation has been cancelled with effect from June, 2013 and it will be charged damage rate of license fee from June, 2013 for the said bungalows till they are vacated, as per the policy.