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
