Sonia Gandhi examines Modi's ideology and background in new memoir

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi reflects on her assessment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in her newly released book titled 'Belonging: A Journey of Love'. She writes that she understands parts of his discomfort with the ruling elite, noting that she also often felt ill at ease in Delhi drawing rooms during political talks where opinions felt far removed from everyday Indian realities. Gandhi observes that Modi worked his way to power within the RSS from an underprivileged background, though she suggests his image-makers may have overstated his modest roots. At the same time, Gandhi offers a sharp critique of the Modi administration and the RSS, arguing that their vision damages the country's pluralistic fabric and secular ethos. She contrasts her own understanding of India, shaped by her family's service and a belief in equal rights for all faiths, with Modi's worldview rooted in RSS ideology, which she describes as placing hierarchy, order, and control at the center. She further criticizes the Prime Minister's language in Parliament and accuses the BJP of fostering hostility toward India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, while pushing for a political landscape free of the Congress party. Meanwhile, Bharat Rashtra Samithi senior leader B. Vinod Kumar has expressed surprise that Gandhi's memoir omits any reference to the Telangana statehood movement. He noted that despite her pivotal role in the political decision-making that led to the formation of Telangana, the book contains no mention of the state or the sacrifices made during the struggle.

Context

Memoirs by senior political figures often blend personal reflections with political messaging to shape public perception of their legacy. The ongoing political debate between the Congress party and the BJP involves competing narratives over national identity, economic policies, and the historical contributions of past leaders.