The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticised Sonia Gandhi’s new memoir, accusing her of trying to justify the Emergency imposed in India in 1975. The party suggested that the book should instead be titled “Whitewashing”, claiming it attempts to hide the mistakes of the Nehru-Gandhi family and the Congress party.
The BJP also questioned Sonia Gandhi’s response to several major incidents in India’s history. It referred to her emotional reaction to the Babri Masjid issue and questioned why similar concerns were not expressed for those killed during the 1984 anti-Sikh violence and the Mumbai terror attacks. The party also asked whether her memoir would explain the Congress government’s response to these incidents.
Sonia Gandhi’s comments on the Emergency also attracted criticism. The Emergency, declared by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975, is widely regarded as a significant period in India’s democratic history because of restrictions on civil liberties and political opposition. The BJP accused the Congress of damaging democratic institutions during its years in power and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for addressing past issues.
The BJP’s criticism came on the day of the memoir’s release. In the book, Sonia Gandhi reportedly expressed regret over the Emergency and reflected that keeping her husband, Rajiv Gandhi, in check might have helped prevent some of its negative consequences.