New Delhi: Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has ruled out any compromise with the BJP and RSS, while accusing the government of damaging India’s democracy
and institutions over the past 12 years.
In an exclusive written interview to The Hindu, she gave written responses to journalist N Ram ahead of her memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, Gandhi discussed political alliances, the Emergency and her decision against becoming prime minister in 2004.
‘No compromise with RSS’
Gandhi acknowledged that political circumstances sometimes forced Congress to work with parties that did not share its ideology. Such decisions troubled her, she said. “But of one thing I am perfectly clear: we never made any compromises with the BJP and the RSS and we never will.”
She defended the party’s secular position, while acknowledging that some members had favoured a less clear-cut approach. She said Congress policies and actions upheld people’s constitutional right to practise their faith without fear.
Damage to democratic institutions
“Over the last twelve years great damage has been done to the fabric of our country, our democracy and our institutions.”
Gandhi said restoring institutions would take time and require considerable effort even after a change of government. However, she expressed confidence that Indians would welcome better governance. She alleged that opposition parties faced an uneven political contest because of the government’s influence over institutions, mainstream media and financial resources. She also alleged electoral manipulation and said Congress’s prospects with like-minded parties had improved, in the interview of The Hindu.
Reflecting on the Emergency
Gandhi said she understood the full gravity of the Emergency only after it ended. She acknowledged restrictions on democratic rights and the suspension of habeas corpus, while maintaining that authorities had acted constitutionally. She cited unrest preceding the Emergency and said Indira Gandhi subsequently recognised the problems, called elections in March 1977 and apologised for excesses.
Turning down prime ministership
Asked whether she wondered how events might have differed had she accepted the prime minister’s post in 2004, Gandhi said the thought had never crossed her mind.
She described her partnership with Manmohan Singh positively, with him heading the government and her leading Congress. Gandhi said she began writing seriously about five years ago. HarperCollins India will publish her memoir on November 10. She declined to discuss the controversy over its change of publisher.
