New Delhi: The Congress, which has been branded “pro-Muslim” by saffron elements, is trying hard to combat this, and will for the first time “officially” celebrate Hindu festivals like Janmashtami, Ram Navami, Diwali, Valmiki Jayanti and Maha-shivratri.

On Janmashtami, that falls on August 17, a “bhajan sandhya” programme will be held by the Delhi PCC to which party vice-president Rahul Gandhi is being invited. To project a secular image, the party will also observe Sikh, Christian and Muslim festivals.

A high-level party source said the party wanted to send a clear signal to non-Muslims that it was serious about its faith in secularism. Delhi will be the Congress’ first “laboratory” for this experiment, after which it will be taken to other states, a senior leader said.

The Congress has so far been regularly holding iftar parties during Ramzan each year at its headquarters, but the only other official functions at the AICC office are those related to its icons like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. “Now we need to evolve. That’s why we are going to celebrate other religious festivals as well,” a leader said.

Delhi Congress chief spokesman Mukesh Sharma said, “Our leaders have been attending all religious festivals in the past and no one can deny that Congress is secular.”