Delhi: The Urban Development Ministry has issued a notice to the Congress party to vacate their party headquarters – the famous 24 Akbar Road in the national capital – following cancellation of its allotment, as per reports on Thursday.
Notice has been served to the Congress to vacate four bungalows in the posession that included 26, Akbar Road, 5, Raisina Road and C-II/109, Chanakya Puri. The government has also directed the party to pay penal fee till the bungalows are vacated.
Confirming the news, senior Congress leader and AICC Treasurer Motilal Vohra said, “Yes, we have received a notice and have replied to the the Urban Development Ministry,” as per ANI.
In a statement, the ministry said that as per the policy on Allotment of Land to Political Parties for building their own party offices, Congress Party was required to vacate in June, 2013 the four bungalows that are in its possession.
The ministry said this is because Congress party was handed over possession of land at 9-A, Rouse Avenue in June, 2010 and as per the policy it was required to vacate the four bungalows within three years i.e., 2013, which was not done, as per PTI.
The Ministry of Urban Development last month had informed the Congress Party that the said allocation has been cancelled with effect from June, 2013 and it will be charged "damage rate of license fee" from that month for the said bungalows till they are vacated, as per the policy.
Subsequently, Congress Party made a request seeking further three years time to vacate these bungalows, it said.
Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu has directed the concerned to examine the request of the Congress.
The grand old party has been operating out of the Akbar Road headquarters since 1978, while 26, Akbar Road is the office of the Congress frontal wing Seva Dal.
On the other hand, 5, Raisina Road has the office of Youth Congress and NSUI(I) offices and the Chanakyapuri bungalow is used as a residence.
The office is next to Congress president Sonia Gandhi's 12 Janpath residence.
With Agency inputs
