Priyanka Gandhi hits back at BJP over Sonia Gandhi book and defends her right

Wayanad MP and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party, accusing the party of fabricating and spreading false narratives about her mother, Sonia Gandhi, for many years. Priyanka stated that her mother is now sharing her own story through her memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, and she possesses the absolute right to do so. The release of the book by the Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party has triggered significant political reactions across the spectrum.

Allegations of malicious campaigns

Speaking to reporters in Mananthavady, Kerala, after visiting the family of the late Padma Shri awardee Cheruvayal Raman, Priyanka Gandhi accused the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh of running a decades-long campaign of misinformation against Sonia Gandhi. She noted that despite these campaigns, her mother remained silent for a long time. Priyanka remarked, The BJP, the RSS, and many others said whatever they wanted about my mother. They lied, they created stories, and they fabricated narratives about her, and she remained silent. Now, she's telling her story, and she has the right to do so. It's good that they're ready to read it. For so long, they were lying about my mother, and now she's telling the truth. I am glad they're reading her book.

Questioning the accountability of the central government

Priyanka Gandhi also targeted the central government, alleging that it doesn't consider itself accountable to the people. She claimed that the government believes it can act without being questioned. She highlighted that when citizens, especially the youth, raise questions or protest, they're often met with force, arrests, or attempts to silence them. Priyanka emphasized that in a democracy, the government must be accountable for every policy and action, including rising prices and other public issues.

The right to protest in a democracy

Defining the essence of democracy, Priyanka Gandhi stated that the Constitution grants citizens the right to protest, while she argued that peaceful protests should be permitted, even if they're directed against Congress-led state governments. While acknowledging that police must take action in cases of violence to uphold the law, she insisted that peaceful dissent is a fundamental democratic right that must be respected.

Visit to Cheruvayal Raman's family

During her visit to Mananthavady, Priyanka Gandhi met with the family of the late Cheruvayal Raman, a tribal farmer who was awarded the Padma Shri. Raman was renowned for his efforts in conserving rare traditional paddy varieties and his dedication to sustainable agriculture and biodiversity.

Political controversy over the book

The publication of Sonia Gandhi's book, Belonging: A Journey of Love, has sparked a political firestorm. The BJP has targeted Sonia Gandhi over mentions of Operation Blue Star in the book, accusing her of distorting history. The BJP has further demanded that Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and other senior Congress leaders apologize to the Sikh community for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. This controversy has gained momentum ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in Punjab.