Lucknow: It would sound strange if anybody says UP Congress headquarters does not belongs to Congress? but yes there is a business in Lucknow who says so. After 38 years of occupation of the Nehru Bhawan at Mall Avenue by the party, a new claimant has come forward.
According to businessman Manish Agarwal, the property belongs to his family. Congress claims otherwise; however, it hasn’t submitted any proof of ownership yet.
On the other side Mohsina Kidwai, state Congress president says, when Indira Gandhi inaugurated the office in December 1979, the party had purchased the property at an auction that January. Now two days ago, they received a notice from the Lucknow Municipal Corporation.
State Congress spokesperson Virendra Madan says they have all necessary documents, “and we are sure that the revenue department will also have them”. In the meanwhile, Agarwal said he recovered a 1961 sale deed a couple of months ago, according to which his grandfather Ram Swaroop Agarwal had bought the property at an auction.
He also submitted tax records of 1970 and 1986. Agarwal says since it is in his grandfather’s name, his names should also be included. He asked how Congress leaders’ names appeared in some records.
The municipal corporation has its own questions. According to Zonal Officer Ashok Singh, they have no record of the 1979 auction claimed by the Congress.
After Agarwal staked claim, they held “several discussions” with Congress leaders, who reportedly gave only verbal replies and no documentary proof.
At the site, a plaque lists the names of the 1979 executive committee members of UP Congress.
