New Delhi: The release of Sonia Gandhi's memoir, 'Belonging: A Journey of Love', has sparked intense political friction, with the Bharatiya Janata Party launching a sharp attack over her remarks on the Emergency and the Babri Masjid. The ruling party asserted that the book is nothing short of an effort to whitewash historical blunders committed by the Nehru-Gandhi family. The publication of the book has instantly drawn fierce reactions from political opponents who accuse the leadership of deflecting past misdeeds.
Reflections on the Emergency and Family Dynamics
In her book, Sonia Gandhi touches upon the turbulent period of the 1975 Emergency, describing it as a mistake while noting her belief that her mother-in-law and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had also grown to feel similarly. She further writes that if Sanjay Gandhi, the brother of her late husband Rajiv Gandhi, had been kept under proper control, much of the severe fallout that followed the Emergency could have been averted.
BJP Labels the Book an Exercise in Whitewashing
Reacting sharply to these passages, BJP national spokesperson C. R. Kesavan took to the social media platform X to criticize the publication. He stated that the memoir should have been named 'Whitewashing' instead of 'Belonging', as its core objective appears to be concealing the grave historical sins of the Congress party. Questioning her emotional account of shedding tears over the Babri Masjid, Kesavan asked whether a single tear rolled down her eyes during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots under Congress rule, when gurdwaras were targeted and thousands of innocent lives were brutally cut short.
Raising Questions on Security and Past Incidents
The BJP leader expanded his critique by pointing to other major security events from past decades. He asked whether similar sorrow was expressed for the brave CRPF personnel who sacrificed their lives protecting the nation, or for the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks that took place during a Congress-led administration. He questioned whether the book addresses the reasons behind the allegedly cowardly response of the UPA government in the aftermath of such devastating national security failures.
Condemning the Normalization of Constitutional Abuses
Calling any attempt to normalize the Emergency deeply alarming, Kesavan emphasized that the dark period effectively murdered the constitution and stripped citizens of their fundamental rights. He added that nearly 55 years of Congress rule inflicted deep wounds and irreparable damage on Indian democracy. Concluding his remarks, he expressed gratitude toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi for effectively correcting the historical missteps left behind by the opposition party.
