Sonia Gandhi inaugurated Cong's new headquarters 'Indira Gandhi Bhawan' in Delhi

Congress Parliamentary Party chief Sonia Gandhi inaugurated the partys new headquarters located at 9A Kotla Road in Delhi on Wednesday marking a key moment in the history of the grand old party which has operated from the 24 Akbar Road premises for the last 47 years reported news agency PTICongress president Mallikarjun Kharge former party chief Rahul Gandhi Congress general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and K C Venugopal among other senior party leaders were present on the occasion reported PTIThe event saw party leaders hoist the party flag at the new headquarters and the singing of Vande Matram and the national anthemSonia Gandhi then inaugurated the building asking Kharge to join her in cutting the ribbon at the entry of the buildingThe new stateoftheart AICC headquarters Indira Gandhi Bhawan symbolises the Congress partys continuing mission to uphold the vision of its stalwarts the party had earlier saidIt is time for us to move ahead with the times and embrace the new AICC general secretary organisation Venugopal had said reported PTIThe construction of Indira Gandhi Bhawan was started during Sonia Gandhis tenure as Congress chiefSituated at 9A Kotla Road New Delhi 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 This iconic building reflects the Congress partys forwardlooking vision while paying homage to its extraordinary past which has shaped the political and social fabric of India he had said reported PTISources have said the party will not vacate its present 24 Akbar Road office which has been its headquarters since 1978 after the Congress I was formed and it will continue to house some of its cellsThe construction of the new AICC headquarters was delayed by several years owing to paucity of funds ever since the Congress lost its government at the Centre The BJP has also not vacated its old party headquarters at 11 Ashoka Road even after shifting to its new headquarters at Deendayal Upadhyay Marg reported PTICongress oldtimers and romantics agree that modern amenities and a larger area are the need of the hour but the emotional connect and unfolding of history associated with the 24 Akbar Road address will always stay strong reported PTIThe Akbar Road bungalow once housed Sir Reginald Maxwell who was a member of Viceroy Lord Linlithgows executive council It was also home to a teen Aung San Suu Kyi in 1961 when her mother was appointed ambassador to IndiaThe Congress has been its mainstay though More than just an office for the party the premises set in expansive lawns was witness to the tenure of seven Congress presidentsWith inputs from PTI