1. Sonia Ghandhi
Made by:Patel Kunjal (110210116041)
Sonia Gandhi born 9 December 1946) is an Italian-born Indian politician, who
has served as President of the indian national congress party since 1998. She is the widow of
former prime minister of india, Rajiv Gandhi who belonged to the Nehru- Ghandhi family.
After her husband's assassination in 1991, she was invited by Congress leaders
to take over the government but she refused and publicly stayed away from politics amidst
constant prodding from the party.She finally agreed to join politics in 1997; in 1998, she was
elected President of the Congress party.
2. She has served as the Chairperson of the ruling united
progressive Alliance in the Lok sabha since 2004. In September 2010, on being
re-elected for the fourth time, she became the longest serving president in the
125-year history of the Congress party.
Her foreign birth has been a subject of much debate and
controversy. Also controversial was her alleged friendship with Italian
businessman Ottavio quattrocchi, accused of being a middleman in the Bofors
Although Sonia is the fifth foreign-born person to be leader of the Congress Party,
she is the first since independence in 1947.
3. que: It really is quite a day, but I must ask you, you say it's the entire party's will.
But were you disappointed that this has not happened on International Women's Day?
ans: No, not at all. When I spoke, I used the word 'if' in my speech, in my address. And no,
I was not disappointed because I know that it was a difficult legislation and certainly problems
may crop up. And one wasn't really sure but of course we were hopeful throughout,
I was keeping my fingers crossed too. I think the support was there in the party and
women in particular and that has really
what has kept my hope and my determination?
que: Did you have a sleepless night, especially after what happened with Hamid Ansari.
That must have been quite upsetting...
ans: Well that was not at all the right to thing to do. But these scenes have been seen before
but I haven't seen them myself.
Of course, we have seen them in Assemblies, but what to do?
4. que: Some of your allies are not happy. Mamata is upset, she says allies were not
consulted. Are you upset with Mamata Banerjee's
response?
ans:Well I can only say I was told that when it came up in Cabinet, all three coalition
partners were very supportive.
They immediately said yes. DMK has been supportive from the beginning, so has Sharad
Pawar been.
Mamata was in the Cabinet and I was told by the person next to her that she was actually
very enthusiastic and she almost
stood up to welcome. I don't quite understand what has happened. I hope she will
understand.
que: In this Session?
ans: I can't say...I can't say.
que: But you're committed, your party is committed?
ans: Of course our party is committed or we wouldn't have taken the first step.
5. que: What about Lalu and Mulayam, especially Laluji as you have enjoyed such a good
personal rapport despite all the political ups and downs? Do you still think it can be saved?
ans: It is true there is a personal rapport with Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu and other leaders.
But of course, when it comes to political issue then the personal relation doesn't count too much.
I do understand their problems and compulsions. I think we all have to think to be generous and
learn to think of the larger picture. Women empowerment is after all a dream, a vision of Rajivji.
It is a genuine vision. We now have so many women in Panchayats. At that time too there was
so much resentment and opposition, but look today, so many of them are empowered.
que: I was going to ask you, this is something close to your heart, you mentioned Rajiv
Gandhi
having brought it in. This is something very close to your heart, this gender issue?
ans: Well, it has always been. I am proud that in our government, we have a woman President
and
woman Speaker in the Lok Sabha.
6. que: The first hurdle has been passed. But Lok Sabha is going to be rowdier. Are you now
determined that come what may
you will go through with this? No changes, no looking back?
ans: Well, the first step has been taken and as a natural corollary to this, the next step will have
to be taken.
que: Want to get a sense of your mind and what went into this. Yesterday must have been a
depressing day to watch what happened in Parliament. Did you, at some stage, decide that
even if this affects the working of the government, it was a risk you believed was worth
taking?
ans: As you know, we meet among our colleagues, PM and the core group and we discuss issues,
and when issues like this are discussed, both sides of the picture are put before us - either the PM
or myself or Pranab, a person who has to deal more directly with all this. And then we take a
view after assessing the situation, after assessing what is going to bethe positives and negatives.
Then together we come to a conclusion. So it is not just me or my decison, I couldn't have
taken this decision on my own. All of us, the PM and others together came to this decision.
7. que: There are those who are asking for OBC quota, minority quota. Do you feel bill needs relooking?
ans: To those who ask such questions, I would say this: Who is going to prevent you from giving seats to Muslim woman,
OBC women, a seat in 33 per cent? Who is going to prevent them from doing it? Right?
