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| |publisher=The Times of India|accessdate=2007-10-02}}</ref>. | |publisher=The Times of India|accessdate=2007-10-02}}</ref>. | ||
| ==Critism== | |||
| ==Opposition over origins== | |||
| Gandhi's foreign birth has sparked intense debate and fervent opposition, despite the fact that Sonia Gandhi is actually the fifth foreign-born person to be leader of the Congress Party <ref>http://www.hindu.com/fline/fl1611/16110920.htm</ref>. | Gandhi's foreign birth has sparked intense debate and fervent opposition, despite the fact that Sonia Gandhi is actually the fifth foreign-born person to be leader of the Congress Party <ref>http://www.hindu.com/fline/fl1611/16110920.htm</ref>. | ||
| Sonia Gandhi's opponents, notably the ] and the ] have played up her "foreign origins", often citing a perceived delay in taking up Indian citizenship and what they allege is a lack of proficiency in ]; their objections are framed as dismay that a "foreigner" holds such a powerful position in a country of one billion Indian-born people <ref> http://www.telegraphindia.com/1020830/asp/nation/story_1151052.asp</ref>. In particular, BJP leaders ] and ] have been at the forefront of the cause. Bharti has called Sonia Gandhi a "threat to national security" and threatened to resign from politics because of her, while Swaraj has threatened to shave her head, among other things<ref>http://www.rediff.com/election/2004/may/18uma.htm</ref>. Prominent opposition to Sonia Gandhi's foreign origins have also come from Tamil leader ] and from ], who sought to organize a "national agitation" against her <ref>http://religion.info/english/articles/article_127.shtml</ref>. | Sonia Gandhi's opponents, notably the ] and the ] have played up her "foreign origins", often citing a perceived delay in taking up Indian citizenship and what they allege is a lack of proficiency in ]; their objections are framed as dismay that a "foreigner" holds such a powerful position in a country of one billion Indian-born people <ref> http://www.telegraphindia.com/1020830/asp/nation/story_1151052.asp</ref>. In particular, BJP leaders ] and ] have been at the forefront of the cause. Bharti has called Sonia Gandhi a "threat to national security" and threatened to resign from politics because of her, while Swaraj has threatened to shave her head, among other things<ref>http://www.rediff.com/election/2004/may/18uma.htm</ref>. Prominent opposition to Sonia Gandhi's foreign origins have also come from Tamil leader ] and from ], who sought to organize a "national agitation" against her <ref>http://religion.info/english/articles/article_127.shtml</ref>. | ||
| As per Professor M.D. Nalapat (Vice-chairman of the Manipal Advanced Research Group, UNESCO Peace Chair, and professor of geopolitics at Manipal University), the reason for these losses is "Hindu Backlash" or "partial" secularism, in which only Hindus are expected to be secular while Muslims and other minorities remain free to practice exclusionary practices. India<ref>http://www.upiasiaonline.com/Politics/2007/12/26/a_hindu_backlash_hits_sonia_gandhi/7005/</ref>. | |||
| There has also been been opposition from within the Congress Party, however. In May 1999, three senior leaders of the party (], ] and ]) challenged her right to try to become India's Prime Minister because of her foreign origins. In response, she offered to resign as party leader, resulting in a massive outpouring of support and the resignation from the party of the three rebels who would go on to form the ] <ref>http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/asiapcf/9905/17/india.gandhi.01/index.html</ref>. | There has also been been opposition from within the Congress Party, however. In May 1999, three senior leaders of the party (], ] and ]) challenged her right to try to become India's Prime Minister because of her foreign origins. In response, she offered to resign as party leader, resulting in a massive outpouring of support and the resignation from the party of the three rebels who would go on to form the ] <ref>http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/asiapcf/9905/17/india.gandhi.01/index.html</ref>. | ||
| To her supporters, however, Sonia Gandhi's foreign origins are a non-issue as they see her instead as an extension of the powerful ]. | |||
| Questions are now being raised now, whether she is really capable of pulling voters. | |||
| This has happened due to continuos defeats of Congress in almost all assembly elections after 2004. (Namely ], ], ], ], ], ], ]). | |||
| Congress could register a win only in ] and ]. | |||
| In ], Congress' performance was poorest every while they bagged only 21 out of 403 seats. | |||
| Congress had very high hopes on 2007 ] elections. Sonia addressed 8 rallies in ]. Congress lost almost all the seats where she addressed in rallies. | |||
| Congress performance was once again very bad and they lost to ] fifth time in a row in ]. <ref>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Sonia_fails_to_pull_in_Gujarat_voters/articleshow/2645927.cms</ref> <ref>http://www.andhracafe.com/index.php?m=show&id=30139</ref> | |||
| Her supporters, however claim that, all the losses are due to local party members and all the wins are due to Sonia Gandhi.<ref>http://www.ibnlive.com/news/cong-leaders-protect-sonia-from-blame-of-loss/54849-3-2.html</ref><ref>http://www.indianexpress.com/story/254004.html</ref> | |||
| ==Notice by Election Commission on India== | |||
| The ] on 9th December 2007, issued a notice to Sonia Gandhi on her "merchants of death" remarks in relation to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. | |||
| This was a big blow on her as no action has been taken on her by any authority in India considering her family's dignity and her hold on the ruling party of ]. It will be very important to see what explanation she has for something which she said on record.<ref>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Now_EC_issues_notice_to_Sonia_Gandhi/articleshow/2608468.cms</ref> | |||
| <ref>http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/dec/09gujpoll1.htm</ref>. | |||
| Her party (]) was found in a big dilemma over replying to the Elections commission's notice. | |||
| <ref>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Congress_flip-flop-flip_on_Sonia_remark/articleshow/2612595.cms</ref> | |||
| Finally, in her reply to ], she defended her remarks and said that she just said the truth.<ref>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Sonia_Gandhi_defends_merchants_of_death_remark_/articleshow/2635581.cms</ref> | |||
| ] has made it clear that she had violated the "code of conduct" <ref>http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=1&theme=&usrsess=1&id=181977</ref>. | |||
| ==Family== | ==Family== | ||
Revision as of 05:15, 27 December 2007
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| Sonia Gandhi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Preceded by | Sitaram Kesari |
| Constituency | Rae Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1946-12-09) December 9, 1946 (age 78) Lusiana, Italy |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Spouse | Rajiv Gandhi (Deceased) |
| Children | Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi |
| Residence(s) | 10 Janpath, New Delhi, India |
| Salary | Unlimited |
| Website | http://www.soniagandhi.org |
| As of July 4, 2006Source: Sonia Gandhi's Official website | |
Sonia Gandhi (Template:Lang-hi, IPA: [soːnɪjaː gaːndʰiː]), born Sonia Antonia Maino on December 9, 1946, is an Italian-born Indian politician, the President of the Indian National Congress and the widow of former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi. She is the Chairperson of the ruling United Progressive Alliance in the Lok Sabha, and the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party. She was named the third most powerful woman in the world by Forbes magazine in the year 2004 and currently ranks 6th . She was also named among the Time 100 most influential people in the world in 2007 She was returned to Parliament by a margin of over 400,000 votes in the by-election for Rae Bareilly after the office of profit controversy.
Early life
Born to Stefano and Paola Maino in Lusiana, a little village 50 km from Vicenza, Italy, she spent her adolescence in Orbassano, a town near Turin being raised in a Roman Catholic family and attending a Catholic school. Her father, a building contractor, died in 1983. Her mother and two sisters still live around Orbassano.
In 1964, she went to study English at The Bell Educational Trust's language school in the city of Cambridge. Being from a poor family she used to work in a restaurant as waitress for paying the tution fees. While doing this certificate course she met Rajiv Gandhi, who was enrolled at the time in Trinity College at the University of Cambridge. They were married in 1969, after which she moved into the house of her mother-in-law and then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi. She acquired Indian citizenship in 1983. The couple had two children, Rahul Gandhi (born 1970) and Priyanka Gandhi (born 1972).
Despite the family's heavy involvement in politics (her mother-in-law Indira Gandhi, daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, was Prime Minister), Sonia and Rajiv avoided all involvement - Rajiv worked as an airline pilot, and Sonia took care of her family. When Indira was ousted from office in 1977 and when Rajiv entered politics in 1982, Sonia continued to focus on her family and avoided all contact with publicity.
Political career
Wife of the Prime Minister
Sonia Gandhi's involvement with Indian public life began after the assassination of her mother-in-law and her husband's election as Prime Minister. As the Prime Minister's wife she acted as his official hostess and also accompanied him on a number of state visits. In 1984, she actively campaigned against her sister-in-law Maneka Gandhi who was running against Rajiv in Amethi. At the end of Rajiv Gandhi's five years in office the Bofors Scandal broke, and Ottavio Quattrocchi an Italian business man believed to be involved, was said to be a friend of Sonia Gandhi having access to the Prime Minister's official residence.
Congress President
Following her husband's assassination on May 21, 1991, there was tremendous pressure on her to accept the leadership of the party. However, Sonia refused and was vehement in her denunciation of politics and politicians. She is said to have stated that she would have rather seen her children beg than enter into the maelstrom of Indian political life. After her refusal, the party settled on the choice of P V Narasimha Rao who became leader and subsequently Prime Minister. Over the next few years, however, the Congress fortunes continued to dwindle and it lost the 1996 elections. Several senior leaders such as Madhavrao Scindia, Rajesh Pilot, Mamata Banerjee, G K Moopanar, P.Chidambaram, Jayanthi Natarajan were in open revolt against the incumbent President Sitaram Kesri and quit the party, splitting the Congress into many factions.
In an effort to revive the party's sagging fortunes, she joined the Congress Party as a primary member in the Calcutta Plenary Session in 1997.
Leader of the Opposition
She was elected the Leader of the Opposition of the 13th Lok Sabha in 1999.
Despite her party not having a majority, she told the President that she had the numbers to form the government but the final numbers fell short of 272.
When the BJP-led NDA formed a government under Atal Behari Vajpayee, she took on the office of the Leader of Opposition. As Leader of Opposition she called a no-confidence motion against the NDA government led by Vajpayee in 2003.
2004 elections and aftermath
In the 2004 general elections, Gandhi launched a nationwide campaign, criss-crossing the country on the Aam Aadmi (Ordinary people) slogan in contrast to the 'India Shining' slogan of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) alliance. She countered the BJP asking "Who is India Shining for?" In the election ,she won by a large margin in the Rae Bareilly constituency in Uttar Pradesh. Following the unexpected defeat of the NDA, she was widely expected to be the next Prime Minister of India. On May 16, she was unanimously chosen to lead a 15-party coalition government with the support of the left, which was subsequently named the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).
After the election result, the defeated NDA protested once again her 'foreign origin' and senior NDA leader Sushma Swaraj threatened to shave her head and "sleep on the ground", among other things, should Sonia become prime minister . The NDA also claimed that there were legal reasons that barred her from the Prime Minister's post, and, indeed, from Parliament. They pointed, in particular, to Section 5 of the Indian Citizenship Act of 1955, which they claimed implied 'reciprocity'. This was contested by others and eventually the suits were dismissed by the Supreme Court of India.
A few days after the election, Gandhi declined the leadership of the Congress Parliamentary Party in the Lok Sabha, and by doing so, rejected the post as prime minister. Her action was hailed by some as part of the old Indian tradition of renunciation, while her opponents attacked it as a political stunt.
She maintains a record of not giving a single interview in her career. The reason is told to be her lack of command on Hindi
UPA Chairperson
On May 18, she recommended noted economist Dr. Manmohan Singh for the Prime Minister's post. Dr. Singh had served as India's finance minister in a previous Congress party government headed by P.V.N. Rao, and is considered by many as the chief architect of India's economic reforms of the early 1990s.
On March 23, 2006, Gandhi announced her resignation from the Lok Sabha and also as chairperson of the National Advisory Council under the office-of-profit controversy and the speculation that the government was planning to bring an ordinance to exempt the post of chairperson of National Advisory Council from the purview of office of profit.She was re-elected from her constituency Rae Bareilly in May 2006 by a huge margin of over 400,000 votes.
As chairperson of the National Advisory Committee and the UPA chairperson, she played an important role in making the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and the Right to Information Act into law.
She addressed the United Nations on October 2 2007, Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary which is observed as the International day of non-violence after a UN resolution passed on July 15, 2007.
Critism
Gandhi's foreign birth has sparked intense debate and fervent opposition, despite the fact that Sonia Gandhi is actually the fifth foreign-born person to be leader of the Congress Party .
Sonia Gandhi's opponents, notably the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh have played up her "foreign origins", often citing a perceived delay in taking up Indian citizenship and what they allege is a lack of proficiency in Hindi; their objections are framed as dismay that a "foreigner" holds such a powerful position in a country of one billion Indian-born people . In particular, BJP leaders Uma Bharti and Sushma Swaraj have been at the forefront of the cause. Bharti has called Sonia Gandhi a "threat to national security" and threatened to resign from politics because of her, while Swaraj has threatened to shave her head, among other things. Prominent opposition to Sonia Gandhi's foreign origins have also come from Tamil leader Jayalalitha and from Govindacharya, who sought to organize a "national agitation" against her .
As per Professor M.D. Nalapat (Vice-chairman of the Manipal Advanced Research Group, UNESCO Peace Chair, and professor of geopolitics at Manipal University), the reason for these losses is "Hindu Backlash" or "partial" secularism, in which only Hindus are expected to be secular while Muslims and other minorities remain free to practice exclusionary practices. India.
There has also been been opposition from within the Congress Party, however. In May 1999, three senior leaders of the party (Sharad Pawar, Purno A. Sangma and Tariq Anwar) challenged her right to try to become India's Prime Minister because of her foreign origins. In response, she offered to resign as party leader, resulting in a massive outpouring of support and the resignation from the party of the three rebels who would go on to form the Nationalist Congress Party .
Questions are now being raised now, whether she is really capable of pulling voters.
This has happened due to continuos defeats of Congress in almost all assembly elections after 2004. (Namely Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Kerala, West Bengal, Orissa).
Congress could register a win only in Goa and Manipur.
In Uttar Pradesh, Congress' performance was poorest every while they bagged only 21 out of 403 seats.
Congress had very high hopes on 2007 Gujarat elections. Sonia addressed 8 rallies in Gujarat. Congress lost almost all the seats where she addressed in rallies.
Congress performance was once again very bad and they lost to BJP fifth time in a row in Gujarat.
Her supporters, however claim that, all the losses are due to local party members and all the wins are due to Sonia Gandhi.
Notice by Election Commission on India
The Election Commission of India on 9th December 2007, issued a notice to Sonia Gandhi on her "merchants of death" remarks in relation to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. This was a big blow on her as no action has been taken on her by any authority in India considering her family's dignity and her hold on the ruling party of India. It will be very important to see what explanation she has for something which she said on record. . Her party (Indian National Congress) was found in a big dilemma over replying to the Elections commission's notice. Finally, in her reply to Election Commission of India, she defended her remarks and said that she just said the truth. Election Commission of India has made it clear that she had violated the "code of conduct" .
Family
Her son, Rahul Gandhi, was elected to Parliament for the Amethi constituency in 2004. Priyanka Gandhi has not stood for office, though she has worked as a Congress campaign manager. There has been considerable media speculation about their futures in the Congress. Sonia and her children are estranged from Maneka Gandhi, the widow of Rajiv's younger brother Sanjay Gandhi, and her son Varun Gandhi, who are both members of the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Publications
Gandhi has published two books about her late husband, Rajiv and Rajiv's World, and edited two volumes of letters exchanged between Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi from 1922 to 1964, Freedom's Daughter and Two Alone, Two Together.
Notes
- Sonia Gandhi 3rd most powerful woman. Retrieved on March 23 2007.
- Sonia Gandhi in Forbes' list for 2007 Retrieved on August 31 2007
- Sonia Gandhi among Time's 100 for 2007. Retrieved on May 14 2007.
- India's communists upbeat over future. BBC News. Retrieved on July 13 2007.
- In Maino land. Retrieved on March 23 2007.
- Italy heralds 'first woman PM'. Retrieved on July 18 2007.
- The name game of the rich and famous. Retrieved on July 18 2007.
- Sonia quits as MP Retrieved on March 23 2007.
- Cong campaign will go back to the family -- Rahul, Priyanka & Sonia Retrieved on July 20 2007.
- BREAKING THE SILENCE Retrieved on July 20 2007.
- http://www.members.tripod.com/tnageer/news.html Sonia Gandhi, Bowing to Pressure, Returns as Congress Party's Leader Retrieved on July 20 2007.
- Who is Quattrocchi?Retrieved on March 23 2007.
- "Sonia Gandhi". Manas, UCLA. Vinay Lal. Retrieved 2007-07-20.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|month=(help) - Dugger, Celia W (April 26 1999). "Gandhi Cabinet Bid Fails; India May Call New Election". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2007-07-20.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - http://religion.info/english/articles/article_127.shtml
- Pioneer News Servic. "Whose inner voice?". CMYK Multimedia Pvt. Ltd. Retrieved 2007-07-20.
- Venkatesan, V (1999). "Citizen Sonia". Frontline. 16 (12). Retrieved 2007-07-20.
{{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|quotes=(help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - Employment Bill not a populist measure: Sonia. Retrieved on July 13 2007.
- After RTI success, it's right to work. Retrieved on July 13 2007.
- "Sonia Gandhi raises disarmament issue at UN meet". The Times of India. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
- http://www.hindu.com/fline/fl1611/16110920.htm
- http://www.telegraphindia.com/1020830/asp/nation/story_1151052.asp
- http://www.rediff.com/election/2004/may/18uma.htm
- http://religion.info/english/articles/article_127.shtml
- http://www.upiasiaonline.com/Politics/2007/12/26/a_hindu_backlash_hits_sonia_gandhi/7005/
- http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/asiapcf/9905/17/india.gandhi.01/index.html
- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Sonia_fails_to_pull_in_Gujarat_voters/articleshow/2645927.cms
- http://www.andhracafe.com/index.php?m=show&id=30139
- http://www.ibnlive.com/news/cong-leaders-protect-sonia-from-blame-of-loss/54849-3-2.html
- http://www.indianexpress.com/story/254004.html
- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Now_EC_issues_notice_to_Sonia_Gandhi/articleshow/2608468.cms
- http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/dec/09gujpoll1.htm
- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Congress_flip-flop-flip_on_Sonia_remark/articleshow/2612595.cms
- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Sonia_Gandhi_defends_merchants_of_death_remark_/articleshow/2635581.cms
- http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=1&theme=&usrsess=1&id=181977
References
- S. R. ET AL. BAKSHI (1998) Sonia Gandhi, The President of AICC South Asia Books. ISBN 81-7024-988-0
- Rupa Chaterjee (1999) Sonia Gandhi: The Lady in Shadow Butala. ISBN 81-87277-02-5
- C. Rupa, Rupa Chaterjee (2000) Sonia Mystique South Asia Books. ISBN 81-85870-24-1
External links
- Official websites
- Others
- Misplaced Pages neutral point of view disputes from December 2007
- 1946 births
- Living people
- Indian National Congress politicians
- Indian Roman Catholics
- Italian Indians
- Presidents of the Indian National Congress
- Nehru-Gandhi family
- People from Turin (city)
- 14th Lok Sabha Members
- People from Raebareli
- Indian women in politics