Politics · India · 1 hr ago
BJP accuses Sonia Gandhi’s memoir of downplaying Congress role in 1984 violence
BJP leaders have accused Sonia Gandhi’s memoir, Belonging, of shielding her family and the Congress from responsibility for the 1984 anti-Sikh violence.
The violence followed the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and took place while the Congress was in power.
BJP leader Harvinder Singh Phoolka said the memoir wrongly blamed the delay in deploying the Army on General A.S. Vaidya.
Phoolka cited commission findings that troops were available in Delhi but were not deployed in time, and said administrative officials were responsible for calling in and deploying them.
He argued that the account fails to address what action Rajiv Gandhi, prime minister at the time, took over the delay.
The dispute is about how the violence and the government’s response are described, as BJP leaders also criticised the memoir’s treatment of other historical events.
No further response from Sonia Gandhi or details of what happens next were included.
The BJP accused Sonia Gandhi’s memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, of shielding her family and the Congress from responsibility for the 1984 anti-Sikh violence.
BJP leader Harvinder Singh Phoolka said the book’s account of the Army’s delayed deployment contradicted official records.
Phoolka cited the Misra and Nanavati commissions, saying soldiers were available in Delhi but were not deployed in time.
BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan also criticised the memoir’s treatment of other historical events, including the Emergency and the Babri Masjid demolition.
The articles do not include a response from Gandhi or the Congress to the BJP’s accusations.
- Who
- The BJP, including Harvinder Singh Phoolka and CR Kesavan, criticised Sonia Gandhi.
- What
- The BJP alleged her memoir downplayed or sought to shield the Congress and her family from responsibility for the 1984 anti-Sikh violence.
- When
- Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
- Where
- New Delhi, according to the Times of India dateline.
- Why
- The BJP said the memoir’s account of the violence and other historical events omitted or softened the Congress and Nehru-Gandhi family’s responsibility.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Phoolka said 6,100 soldiers were available in Delhi but were not deployed in time.
The BJP criticised Sonia Gandhi’s memoir at a press briefing and in posts on X.
- Memoir
- Belonging: A Journey of Love
- BJP leader
- Harvinder Singh Phoolka
- BJP spokesperson
- CR Kesavan
- Soldiers cited
- 6,100 available in Delhi
- Commissions cited
- Misra Commission and Nanavati Commission
- Date of criticism
- November 10, 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
In the book that Sonia Gandhi has published, she has tried to give her family a clean chit over the massacre of Sikhs.
First, as per the Misra Commission’s report, 6,100 soldiers were available in Delhi on the night of October 31 and the morning of November 1, but they were not deployed in time.
Did Sonia Gandhi even shed one tear for when the gurdwaras were attacked and innocent people, thousands of innocent people, were violently killed during the 1984 Sikh massacre which happened under the Congress rule
The way in which Sonia Gandhi has tried to justify and normalise Indira Gandhi imposing the notorious Emergency which murdered our Constitution and suspended fundamental rights is indeed most shocking and appalling.