Sonia Gandhi claims little real contact with PM Modi in memoir
Former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi writes in her new book Belonging that she and the Prime Minister only meet at semi-official gatherings.
Former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has stated that she has had practically no real contact with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to a report by Hindustan Times. In her 544-page memoir Belonging, which is released in bookstores on Tuesday, Gandhi notes that they only meet at semi-official gatherings, such as at the Speaker’s chamber.
Gandhi wrote that when the two leaders meet face-to-face, they greet each other with a formal namaste. She observed that the Prime Minister tends to look away and avoid eye contact, noting this is different from the past when leaders across party divides treated each other with cordiality.
The 79-year-old leader acknowledged that their ideologies and world views differ, stating he fought for his vision of India while she fought for inclusiveness, secularism, and social justice. However, she noted some common ground regarding a shared discomfort with the ruling elite.
Gandhi also mentioned that the Prime Minister worked his way to power within the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) from an underprivileged background. She attributed his sharp comments on former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to his conditioning by the RSS.
The memoir covers Gandhi's life from her birth in Italy and time in the UK to her arrival in India and rise to power. It includes details regarding her marriage to Rajiv Gandhi, her relationship with Indira Gandhi, and her battle with breast cancer.