‘Trying to divert attention from Iran war’: Congress slams BJP over notice to expel Lutyens

New Delhi: The Congress party on Wednesday received an eviction notice from its long-standing national headquarters at 24 Akbar Road and asked it to vacate the site by March 28. Reacting to the notification, the Congress claimed that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government was trying to divert public attention from the ongoing war in Iran.Party leader Imran Masood said, “The government thinks it can silence the Congress by putting pressure on us. They should not try to scare us. Did they find the PPP office at 11 Ashok Road or Pantmarg? Since they are powerless on the issue of Iran war, they are trying to divert people’s attention from the issue.”Pramod Tiwari also criticized the move, calling it undemocratic. “The PPP government is not a democratic government. This is unfortunate. Please let the notice reach us. We will take action after discussion,” he said.Reacting to the notification, Karti P. Chidambaram said: “If they want to enforce this principle on the Congress party, then it should be applicable to all other political parties. It cannot be one-sided.”The Congress party has occupied the Akbar Road bungalow since 1978, making it a symbolic address in the heart of Lutyens Delhi.Party workers said the eviction notice was issued a few days ago. The second notice was sent to the Indian Youth Congress headquarters at 5 Raisina Road. With both deadlines set for March 28, Congress has said it plans to seek help from the courts to prevent forced evictions. Congress MP and senior lawyer Abhishek Singhvi described the eviction notice as “illegal and politically motivated”. While the party has shifted to its new headquarters at Indira Bhavan near Ito, it has retained its office at Akbar Road.