Shri Ajay Maken said- Today we will introduce you to a temple of democracy. Today we will introduce you to Indira Bhawan, the headquarters of the country’s largest opposition Party at present and the Party whose history and the history of independence are synonymous.

On November 19, 2007, this land was allotted to us by the Government of India. Its foundation stone was laid in 2009 and finally on January 14, 2025, we received the ‘Completion cum Occupancy Certificate’ and on January15 we came here and today invited all of you here for the first press conference.

In any democracy, a strong opposition is of utmost importance. Equipped with the latest technology and the advanced infrastructure, Indira Bhawan not only symbolizes the ambitions and aspirations of the country with the largest youth population in the world, but is also ready to protect democracy and play the role of a vigilant opposition.

In the future, such processes are being developed in Indira Bhawan so that the Congress workers from all over the country are welcomed in this Bhawan and senior officials can easily interact with them.

The aim of ‘Indira Bhawan’ was to create a place that would not only be the headquarters of the Party but also symbolize its heritage and values. Its purpose is to reflect the glorious history and democratic principles of the Party in its design, while also developing it as a modern workspace. We have tried to create a welcoming environment that encourages collaboration and participation and that our headquarters is both inspiring and practical. Apart from this, special emphasis has been placed on incorporating elements of transparency and openness in the design, so as to reflect the values of inclusiveness and democratic dialogue.

The five-storey building covers a total area of 2,100 square metres. It has its own 276-seating capacity auditorium, many meeting rooms and conference halls. There is adequate seating arrangement for all the office-bearers of frontal organizations and cells of the Congress. For this, as I said, many committee/conference rooms have been built and adequate arrangements are being made for the Congress workers from across the country to sit and relax in open spaces. It has 134 trees; 8,675 plants and 264 artworks and paintings. In the cafeteria, you will see Nand Lal Bose’s paintings which were made in 1938 at the Haripur Congress session on the request of Gandhiji. Gandhiji had envisioned this session as a symbol of India’s cultural heritage, which reflected the spirit of the freedom struggle. He tried to integrate art into the political and social discourse of the Congress and we are trying the same through this Indira Bhawan.

Each floor of Indira Bhawan represents an era in the history of the Congress Party. This history is also the glorious history of India’s independence. A unique feature of ‘Indira Bhawan’ is its central atrium, which is the physical and symbolic heart of the building. It creates a sense of openness and connection, allowing people to move easily between spaces and fostering collaboration.

The second feature is its sustainable design elements, such as solar panels and energy-efficient systems, which make the building environmentally responsible and, as a treasure, economical in the long term, I might say.

The third feature is the public engagement spaces, such as the committee/conference rooms, an auditorium, asI mentioned, which have been created in large numbers, which also provide platforms for community engagement, dialogue and cultural exchange. This is in line with the Party’s mission of inclusiveness and transparency. Even the offices of the office-bearers are symbols of openness, you will see that everyone can see each other, which will inspire better coordination and participation.

The new Congress Bhawan is not a building, it is a glorious legacy of freedom. This Indira Bhawan has an ideological movement at its foundation and at its peak is the resolve to protect the Constitution.

You will find the echoes of Mahatma Gandhi’s ‘Quit India Movement’ to Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Movement’ running through the veins of Indira Bhawan step-by-step. Our ‘Indira Bhawan’ is built with the donations of lakhs of workers who believe that Congress means the struggle for the upliftment of the all-downtrodden class, Congress means the protection of India’s harmony, Congress means faith in inclusive development. The five values of our Congress Constitution are reflected in the text itself, these are democracy, nationalism, secularism, inclusive development and justice. These are what inspire us.

Based on the maiden press briefing on January 18, 2025 at the New Headquarters