New Delhi: Former Congress President Sonia Gandhi in her much awaited memoir 'Belonging: A Journey of Love'I have made shocking revelations regarding my relations and political differences with the country's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This book, published by HarperCollins India, has become a topic of discussion as soon as it came into the market. In the book, Sonia Gandhi has claimed that, despite more than 12 years as Prime Minister and PM Modi's third term going on, there has never been any real conversation between them.
PM Modi has avoided eye contact: Sonia Gandhi
After every session of Parliament, leaders of major political parties meet in the chamber of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, where only formal greetings take place between the two leaders. Sonia Gandhi has written that, in earlier times, leaders of different political parties used to meet each other with cordiality and courtesy, but now the situation has changed. He has written that, whenever PM Modi comes face to face, he looks away and avoids making eye contact.
However, he has also mentioned that, when he returned from the hospital after treatment, PM Modi had asked him, 'Are you okay?' In response to which he said, 'Yes, I am fine now, thank you'. Apart from such casual and formal greetings (Birthday and New Year), there was never any communication between them.
Both have completely different ideologies regarding India.
Talking about ideological differences in the book, Sonia Gandhi has written that, PM Modi and his thoughts are worlds apart. He has understood India based on the life, service and experiences of his family members. His family believed in a country where there was room for people of different races, cultures, languages and religions and where everyone enjoyed freedom and equality.
On the other hand, he wrote that PM Modi's ideology of India is shaped by the thinkers of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and his own life experiences. In this thinking, one's own religion and culture are placed above others, in which social hierarchy and control are given central importance.
Comment on Jawaharlal Nehru and 'Congress-free India'
Sonia Gandhi has also raised questions on BJP's slogan of 'Congress-free India' and the speeches made by PM Modi in Parliament. He has written that, BJP and its ideological family especially target the country's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Sites associated with Sangh Parivar are full of derogatory comments and misinformation against Nehru. He has clarified that this is not a personal matter, but a question of two different viewpoints of seeing India. This book is not primarily about politics, but is presented as a background and framework to his life.