Sonia acknowledges the Emergency as a mistake; notes that Indira Gandhi was also uncomfortable with it

New Delhi : Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, has revealed that she wept following the demolition of the structure in Ayodhya in 1992.

The BJP responded swiftly to this remark, made during an interview with the British newspaper The Guardian. Party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi stated that the comment reflects how “Babur” has always held a place in the hearts of the Congress party and Sonia Gandhi and continues to do so today.

In the interview given ahead of the November 10 release of her memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love Sonia recalled the demolition of the disputed structure. She noted that she realized then that a long struggle lay ahead to defend the secular nation that Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, and their associates had fought to build.

Sonia also acknowledged that the failures of her own party contributed, to some extent, to the rise of the BJP and its Hindutva-based politics.

It is worth noting that the Muslim side claimed the disputed structure in Ayodhya was the Babri Masjid.

Sonia described the decision to impose the Emergency as a mistake, adding that she believes her mother-in-law the then-Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi eventually came to the same realization. “I have always felt that Indira Gandhi was a democrat at heart. I know many might laugh at this, but I believe she was never comfortable with the path taken during the Emergency.” In her memoirs, Sonia Gandhi writes that if Sanjay Gandhi had been kept “under control,” much of the damage that occurred following the imposition of the Emergency could have been averted. BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi remarked to journalists that Sonia’s comment implies the Congress has moved away from Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of “Ramraj” (an ideal, righteous state) and shifted toward a “Babar Raj” (a reference to the rule of the Mughal emperor Babar).

Sonia’s remarks reveal the dual-faced nature of the Congress party. It not only aligns itself with the Muslim community but also maintains ties with radical elements within it. In 1989, Rajiv Gandhi launched his election campaign from Ayodhya, invoking the name of Lord Ram. Today, by referencing the Babri Masjid, expressing sorrow over the situation in Gaza, and shedding tears for those accused in the Batla House encounter, Sonia Gandhi is exposing the true mindset of the Congress.

Sudhanshu Trivedi stated, “Sonia Gandhi, three generations of your family have visited Babar’s tomb uninvited. Jawaharlal Nehru in 1959, Indira Gandhi in 1968, and Rahul Gandhiaccompanied by Manmohan Singh in 2005, all went there and paid their respects. What was truly in your heart has now come to light.”

The BJP MP also questioned Sonia Gandhi’s claim that she watched the demolition of the disputed structure on television. Trivedi noted that he recalls the BBC covering the event that day, and asked, “Where were you when you watched this on the BBC? Which Indian television channel were you watching on December 6, 1992, that brought tears to your eyes?” The ‘kar sevaks’ arrived there at 11:30 AM that day, and by 5:00 PM when news came that the structure had been completely demolished the Kalyan Singh government in Uttar Pradesh had resigned.

Report : Abhijit Tushar Bhatt (Political Editor)