BJP Criticises Sonia Gandhi’s Autobiography

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticised Congress leader Sonia Gandhi over her autobiography, Belonging: A Journey of Love, alleging that the book attempts to justify the Emergency imposed during former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s tenure. BJP national secretary C.R. Kesavan sarcastically suggested that the book should have been titled Covering Up Mistakes instead. He described the alleged defence of the Emergency as shocking, arguing that the period witnessed the suspension of fundamental rights and disregard for constitutional principles. Kesavan further claimed that the book appeared to present historical mistakes committed by the Nehru-Gandhi family in a favourable light.

Kesavan also questioned Sonia Gandhi’s alleged emotional responses to certain incidents mentioned in the book, contrasting them with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the Batla House encounter controversy and the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. He questioned whether the Congress leadership had adequately responded to the suffering of victims and security personnel during those incidents. He also asked why the then UPA government had not taken stronger action against those responsible for the Mumbai attacks. Criticising the Congress party’s decades-long rule at the Centre, Kesavan alleged that it had caused significant damage to India's political system and democracy. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with correcting what he described as historical mistakes committed by the Congress. These remarks represent the BJP leader's political criticism of Sonia Gandhi and her book.