Sonia's memoir: What daughter Priyanka says
Priyanka accused the BJP and RSS of spreading fabricated stories about her mother for years, after the ruling party criticised her memoir
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday (November 12) accused the BJP and RSS of spreading false stories about her mother, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, for years. She said the criticism of Sonia's recently released memoir had followed the same pattern, with the BJP now questioning the truth of her account.
Priyanka defends Sonia's right to tell her story
Priyanka was responding to reporters who asked about the BJP's remarks on the book. She said her mother had remained silent for much of her adult life in India while political opponents made claims about her.
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"For most of my mother's adult life in India, the BJP, RSS, and many others have said whatever they wanted to say about her. They have told lies, they have fabricated stories, they have completely invented things and she has been quiet. Now she is telling her story. She has a right to tell her story," the Wayanad MP asserted.
"For so long they have been telling lies about my mother. Now she is telling the truth. So obviously they are going to say that (it is false). What else can they say? Anyways, I am very happy they are reading her book," she added.
Priyanka responds to BJP's allegations
The BJP had criticised Sonia Gandhi's memoir on Tuesday, accusing her of trying to "justify" the Emergency imposed in 1975. The party also alleged that she had given a "clean chit" to her late husband Rajiv Gandhi over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. It said the book, "Belonging", should have been titled "whitewashing".
Sonia Gandhi's memoir, 'Belonging: A Journey of Love', was released on Tuesday. Its contents have drawn both praise and criticism.
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The ruling party also alleged that the book exposed Sonia Gandhi's real face, claiming that her tears flow for Muslim votes only but dry up when Pakistani terrorists kill Indians, and Naxalites carry out "massacre of Sanatanis".
Responding to the criticism, Priyanka said her mother had written what she wanted to explain and included her own account of events.
"Everyone has their own personal point of view. Everyone has their own story, right," she added.
(With agency inputs)