Former Congress President Sonia Gandhi has opened up about several crucial and sensitive chapters of India's political history in a recent extensive interview. Speaking with The Guardian, she shared her personal memories, reflections on the 1992 events, the imposition of the Emergency by her mother-in-law and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the ideological differences between her husband Rajiv Gandhi and brother-in-law Sanjay Gandhi, and the harrowing moments surrounding Indira Gandhi's assassination. Her candid remarks have once again triggered intense political debates across the nation, drawing sharp reactions from political opponents.
Sonia Gandhi wept seeing Babri Masjid demolition on television in 1992
During the interview, Sonia Gandhi recalled the watershed moment of the 1992 disputed Babri Masjid demolition, revealing a deeply personal reaction. She stated that she burst into tears when she saw the television footage of the Babri structure being pulled down. According to Sonia, at that very moment, she knew she was staring at a long and arduous battle ahead to protect the secular nation that Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and their nationalist comrades had strived to build and preserve.
Plus, Sonia Gandhi candidly acknowledged her own party's failures and shortcomings, admitting that the Congress party's shortcomings had partially contributed to the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party and its hardline Hindutva politics. She noted that the party had grown far too complacent over various issues, pointing out that there was a pervasive laissez-faire attitude within the organization that ultimately had severe consequences on the national political landscape.
Imposing the Emergency was a mistake, admits Sonia Gandhi
Addressing the contentious chapter of the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi admitted that the decision was indeed a mistake, while she also shared her belief that her mother-in-law, Indira Gandhi herself, felt the same way deep down. Sonia revealed that the family was deeply divided over this historic and controversial decision, with intense internal debates taking place within the household before the final step was implemented.
According to Sonia Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi was strictly against the move. Rajiv had urged his mother to wait until the upcoming general elections rather than taking such an extreme step, while in stark contrast, her volatile younger son, Sanjay Gandhi, aggressively pushed for it. During a family dinner argument, Sanjay insisted that the opposition would completely destroy his mother and told her that they needed to be stopped firmly and decisively.
Sanjay Gandhi's immense influence and rising family tensions
Sonia Gandhi pointed out that Sanjay Gandhi's immense influence over his mother at the time was a major talking point and a subject of widespread public debate. This aggressive positioning naturally escalated the tension within the family, while rajiv Gandhi tried his best to confront his mother over the issue, but Indira Gandhi flatly refused to listen to anyone. Sonia Gandhi writes in her book that keeping Sanjay under control could have prevented much of the damage that unfolded subsequently for both the country and the family.
Despite all these internal turmoils, Sonia Gandhi maintained that Indira Gandhi was a democrat at heart, while she acknowledged that many people would laugh at or dismiss this assertion, but she firmly believes that Indira Gandhi was never truly comfortable during the entire duration of the Emergency. Sonia felt that the immense weight of the situation was constantly taking a heavy toll on Indira Gandhi's conscience.
Harrowing memories of Indira Gandhi's tragic assassination
Recalling the tragic events of October 31, Sonia Gandhi shared the painful memories of the day Indira Gandhi was assassinated. She was at home when she suddenly heard sounds resembling firecrackers. Rushing towards Indira's office, she witnessed a horrific scene with her mother-in-law's blood-soaked and bullet-riddled body lying motionless on the floor, while indira Gandhi's own Sikh bodyguards had opened fire on her to avenge the military assault on the Golden Temple.
Sonia Gandhi recalled that there was blood everywhere and she immediately realized that Indira wasn't going to answer her questions, as it felt like she was already gone, while she remembered the drive from their home to the hospital as deeply agonizing. Although there wasn't much traffic on the roads, the journey felt painfully slow, while she knew intrinsically that because Indira wasn't speaking, everything was already over.
BJP hits back with sharp political attacks
Following the publication of Sonia Gandhi's interview, the Bharatiya Janata Party launched a scathing counter-attack against the Congress party and Sonia Gandhi. BJP leader and national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari reacted sharply, taunting that Sonia Gandhi cried for Babri, cried for Batla House, and would do anything for vote-bank politics. The BJP leader alleged that the Congress party and its leadership have always harbored anti-Hindu sentiments and pursued appeasement policies. This war of words has added fuel to ongoing political rivalries, with leaders from both sides engaging in intense verbal duels.