BJP Calls Sonia Gandhi’s Memoir Whitewashing Despite Shared Ground With Modi

WHO:

NDTV - BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan criticized Sonia Gandhi’s memoir, *Belonging: A Journey of Love*, and credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with correcting what he called Congress’s “historical wrongs.”

Hindustan Times - Sonia Gandhi wrote that she and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had “practically no real contact,” despite meeting at semi-official gatherings, including in the Speaker’s chamber.

NDTV - Sonia Gandhi wrote that her children, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, opposed her becoming prime minister because their family had experienced the assassinations of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.

NDTV - The article says Indira Gandhi was killed in 1984 and Rajiv Gandhi in 1991.

NDTV - Sonia Gandhi proposed Manmohan Singh as Congress Parliamentary Party leader after declining the prime ministership.

WHAT:

NDTV - Kesavan said the memoir should be called “Whitewashing,” alleging it “sugar-coat[ed]” the Nehru-Gandhi family’s historical wrongs and Congress’s “cardinal sins.”

NDTV - Sonia Gandhi described the 1975 Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi as a mistake and wrote that much of its damage could have been prevented had Sanjay Gandhi been kept “in check.”

NDTV - Kesavan accused the memoir of normalizing the Emergency and raised the suspension of fundamental rights, press censorship, the 1984 Sikh massacre, the Babri Masjid demolition, the 2008 Batla House encounter, the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, and the Congress-led government’s response to them.

Hindustan Times - Sonia Gandhi said she and Modi had different visions of India, describing her own as opposing hegemony and supporting inclusiveness, secularism, and social justice. She wrote that their political conflict “wasn’t personal.”

NDTV - Sonia Gandhi recounted that she initially told Rahul and Priyanka she would “absolutely not” become prime minister. After alliance leaders pressed her following the 2004 election, she murmured “theek hai,” then reversed her response after speaking with her children and reflecting overnight.

NDTV - Sonia Gandhi told Congress MPs her “inner voice” did not permit her to accept the post, then nominated Manmohan Singh.

WHERE:

NDTV - Sonia Gandhi recounted meeting alliance leaders at 10 Janpath, in Rajiv Gandhi’s conference room; she later spoke with Rahul Gandhi in his room.

NDTV - Kesavan referred to Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi visiting former external affairs minister K. Natwar Singh before publication of his autobiography, *One Life Is Not Enough*.

WHY:

NDTV - Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi opposed Sonia Gandhi becoming prime minister because they associated the office with threats to her life and their family’s assassinations.

NDTV - Sonia Gandhi said she weighed her responsibility to Congress and its workers against her settled decision and her family’s concerns.

HOW:

Hindustan Times - Sonia Gandhi wrote that she and Modi greeted each other with a formal “namaste” at semi-official events and that he tended to look away and avoid eye contact.

NDTV - At the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting, Sonia Gandhi briefly left after announcing her decision, returned, and requested permission to name another leader.

(UPDATED November 11, 2026 02:02 UTC)

Sonia Gandhi’s memoir says Rahul and Priyanka opposed her becoming prime minister, fearing for her safety. She ultimately declined the post, citing her inner voice, and nominated Manmohan Singh. Gandhi also described limited contact with Modi and criticized the Emergency as a mistake.