Sonia Gandhi Blames BJP for ‘Great Damage’ to India’s Democratic Fabric

Sonia Gandhi, the veteran Congress chief, didn’t mince words when she sat down with The Hindu. She said the past twelve years under the BJP have inflicted “great damage” on the very fabric of our country – on democracy, on institutions, on the trust people place in them.

“Even after this government steps down, it will take a long, hard effort to put our systems back in shape,” she told the reporter, adding that Indians are gradually waking up to the scale of the problem. Yet, she smiled, “I’m optimistic – the people will welcome a return to proper governance.”

The former parliament‑party chair also drifted back to the dark chapter of the 1975 Emergency. She acknowledged that civil liberties were suspended, even habeas corpus, but insisted the move was carried out “constitutionally.” She tried to see it through Indira Gandhi’s eyes, recalling the chaos of violent protests, burning government offices and a restless bureaucracy.

“When the Emergency finally ended, it was through democratic means – a call for the March 1977 election and Indira’s own public apology,” Sonia said, suggesting that hindsight helps us keep perspective.

Amid these political reflections, Gandhi also spoke about her forthcoming memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love. She described it as more than a love story with Rajiv Gandhi; it is, in her words, “the story of how I came to love his family, the country, and eventually found my own place in its public life.”

She confessed she had been reluctant to share her personal saga for a long time, but felt compelled when she saw the sacrifices of her adopted nation under threat. The book traces her path from post‑war Italy to the corridors of Indian politics, weaving together personal loss, love, and a deepening sense of belonging.

Whether you agree with her assessment of the BJP or not, Sonia Gandhi’s remarks underline a stark warning: the health of India’s democracy will need careful nurturing in the years ahead.