Jaipur, Oct 16: Launching the assembly poll campaign in five states on a high personal and emotional note on her foreign origin issue, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today said neither her patriotism could be questioned. In the backdrop of NCP chief Sharad Pawar's recent campaign against Gandhi's foreign origin, the AICC President told an election rally here that all along she had been following Indian traditions and secular and ethical proprieties of the Gandhi family. "Bahu, maa aur vidhava ke roop mein maine kaunsi maryada ka nirvahan nahin kiya (which tradition of the country I did not follow as a daughter-in-law, as a mother and as a widow)," she said in a voice choked with emotion.
"Those raising fingers on my patriotism should first tell me what Indian tradition I have not followed after becoming Indira Gandhi's "Bahu" (daughter-in-law)."

Without naming anyone, Gandhi said, "Some people are raising finger at my loyalty to this country. Had I wished, I could have got the highest post after my husband's murder. But I never aspired for any thing."


"I never considered my personal agony and pain above the country's traditions," she added.

However, Gandhi said, those who could do any thing for power cannot understand this. "Those who can go to any extent for grabbing power, those who are neck deep in corruption and those who trade on martyrs' "Kafan" (cloth wrapping dead body) cannot understand it." Bureau Report