New Delhi, November 11, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Businessman Robert Vadra on Wednesday said Sonia Gandhi’s memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, was not intended to offer clarifications or improve the public image of the Gandhi family, but to share her personal experiences, emotions and political journey with the country.
Speaking to IANS after the book’s release, Vadra said the memoir described Sonia Gandhi’s entry into the Gandhi family, her political experiences and the decisions she had taken in the interest of the country.
“I do not think this book is meant to offer any clarification or to present the Gandhi family in a better light. She simply wanted to share her story with the country and explain her experiences clearly, honestly and with affection,” he said.
Vadra described Sonia Gandhi’s decision not to become Prime Minister after the Congress-led alliance’s victory in 2004 as a major sacrifice. He said he believed the post had never been her personal ambition, despite the party’s massive electoral victory.
He said Sonia Gandhi wanted to prevent divisions in the country and believed in secularism and national unity. Vadra added that she chose former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to lead the government because of his economics background and her desire to carry forward the vision of former Prime Ministers Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi.
“She chose Dr Manmohan Singh because he had an economics background. For her, it was important to push forward the vision of Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi. She asked Singh to run the country with her. I think people appreciated that. It was a big sacrifice on her side to give up the Prime Minister’s position,” he said.
Vadra said he had not yet read the memoir, although Sonia Gandhi had personally presented him with a copy. He said he had heard that readers were queuing up to purchase the book and described it as an opportunity to understand the emotions behind her decisions.
He said Sonia Gandhi had spent 12 years documenting her experiences, including both positive and difficult moments. Vadra also described the memoir as an inspiration for women and said he expected it to bring her greater affection and respect from readers.
Recalling his association with the Gandhi family, Vadra said he had joined Congress election campaigns in Uttar Pradesh in 1999 and learnt about politics from Sonia Gandhi and other family members. He said she had guided him when he became part of the family, explaining that he would encounter both affection and criticism from political opponents.
Vadra also alleged that he had faced difficult circumstances following Enforcement Directorate (ED) action against him and maintained that the allegations against him were false. He said Sonia Gandhi regularly checked on him and guided him during that period.
Recalling the circumstances surrounding Rajiv Gandhi’s death, Vadra said Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was at their home for dinner when her father died and received the news after they returned. He said he spent considerable time with the family during that difficult period.
Defending Sonia Gandhi’s political conduct, Vadra said she had continued to treat political opponents with respect despite what he described as a lack of similar respect from BJP leaders. He urged critics of the memoir to read it carefully rather than comment for political optics.
Asked whether Sonia Gandhi worried about the security of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, he said she naturally advised them to remain cautious, particularly in public gatherings, drawing on her own experiences.
“She would certainly advise them based on her own experiences, telling them to be careful. For instance, if they enter a crowd without security, she would certainly caution them as a mother. She lost Rajiv ji in similar circumstances, but I would say that she is fearless,” he said.
Vadra added that the family had the strength to face political criticism and that Sonia Gandhi’s aim had always been to take the nation and the Congress party to greater heights.
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