Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday hit back at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) over their criticism of her mother Sonia Gandhi's newly released memoir, accusing them of spreading falsehoods and inventing stories about the former Congress president over the years.
Speaking to reporters during her three-day visit to her Wayanad constituency in Kerala, Priyanka said Sonia Gandhi had remained silent despite years of allegations and criticism, and was now entitled to share her own account of her life and political journey.
"For the whole of my mother's adult life in India, the BJP, RSS and many others have said whatever they wanted about my mother. They have lied, they have fabricated stories and also invented stories about her, and she has been quiet. Now, she is telling her story, and she has the right to do so. It is good that they are ready to read it. For so long, they (BJP) have been telling lies about my mother, and now she is telling the truth. I am happy they are reading her book," she said.
The remarks marked Priyanka's first visit to Wayanad since the release of Sonia Gandhi's memoir, 'Belonging: A Journey of Love', on November 10.
Sonia Gandhi's memoir sparks political exchange
The memoir traces Sonia Gandhi's personal journey and her years in Indian politics. Its release has triggered a political confrontation between the Congress and the BJP, with the Opposition party defending her right to narrate her experiences and the ruling party questioning her account of contentious periods in India's political history.
The BJP has criticised the book, alleging that Sonia Gandhi is attempting to whitewash controversial chapters of the Congress's past, particularly the Emergency and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
The Congress, meanwhile, has maintained that Sonia Gandhi is entitled to present her own perspective on her life and the events she witnessed during her decades in public life.
Priyanka's defence comes amid the continuing political debate over the memoir and its portrayal of the Congress's history.
Priyanka visits Wayanad during three-day constituency tour
During her three-day visit, Priyanka is scheduled to inaugurate development projects and review ongoing works across her constituency.
On Thursday, she visited the family of late Padma Shri awardee Cheruvayal Raman, a renowned traditional seed conservationist, at Mananthavady.
She was also scheduled to inaugurate two Smart Anganwadis at Kammana and Thrissillery as part of her constituency engagements.
Priyanka represents Wayanad in the Lok Sabha after winning the seat in the 2024 by-election. The bypoll was necessitated after her brother, Rahul Gandhi, vacated the constituency to retain Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh following the 2024 general elections.