NEW DELHI: The Congress on Wednesday announced that the new party headquarters in the national capital will be called “Indira Bhawan” and the library will be named after former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The announcement from Congress chief Kharge came amidst the BJP’s call to name the new party headquarters after Manmohan Singh. Posters referring to the Congress’s new headquarters as ‘Sardar Manmohan Singh Bhavan’ were also seen outside the new party office in the national capital.
“I pay tribute to Dr. Manmohan Singh’s historical contribution and announce that the library in this new headquarters will be named Dr. Manmohan Singh Library,” Kharge said while addressing party workers after inauguration of the Congress HQ.
In a post on X, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya criticised Rahul Gandhi’s decision to visit Vietnam for New Year following Manmohan Singh’s death, despite claiming him as a mentor.
“Posters outside the new Congress headquarters call for it to be named Sardar Manmohan Singh Bhavan, as a tribute to the former Prime Minister. Rahul Gandhi once referred to him as a mentor, yet he chose to travel to Vietnam for the New Year while the nation mourned his passing,” Malviya said.
“Furthermore, no Congress representative came forward to collect his ashes. Naming the building after him would be a meaningful gesture to honor his legacy and address the disrespect he endured during his lifetime, particularly from the Gandhi family. It is now up to them to make the right decision,” he added.
Congress leader Anil Shastri dismissed the demand, and said, “The poster controversy regarding Manmohan Singh is a BJP conspiracy, as the name ‘Indira Bhawan, had been decided long ago”
The Congress is relocating its headquarters after more than 45 years from 24, Akbar Road to Indira Gandhi Bhawan at Kotla Marg.
Sonia Gandhi inaugurated the new party headquarters in Delhi, in the presence of party president Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi and other senior party officials.
The ‘Indira Gandhi Bhawan’ is designed to meet the evolving needs of the party and its leaders, featuring modern facilities to support administrative, organisational, and strategic activities.
