6 things Natwar Singh reveals about Sonia GandhiTop Stories

August 01, 2014 16:23
6 things Natwar Singh reveals about Sonia Gandhi},{6 things Natwar Singh reveals about Sonia Gandhi

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Former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh's autobiography 'One Life is Not Enough' has shocked the Congress party as well as other political parties. Singh has revealed several things about the Congress president in his autobiography, published by Rupa.

The book has led to a war of words between Sonia Gandhi and Natwar Singh, after an interview of the latter with Karan Thapar. What is confounding is that a Congress loyalist has spoken out against the top boss. So why is Sonia Gandhi so upset with Natwar Singh's book? Here are the six things that Natwar Singh revealed about Sonia Gandhi in his book.

Sonia Gandhi responsible for fall of the Congress Party

Natwar Singh's five-page epilogue is full of criticism for Sonia Gandhi. Singh reportedly holds Sonia Gandhi responsible for reducing Congress, one of the “greatest political parties” of the world, into a mere 44 members spectacle in the 16th Lok Sabha.

Truth behind turning down the post of Prime Minister

The former minister says that Sonia Gandhi did not sacrifice the post of prime minister on her own. Rather it was Rahul Gandhi who forced her to turn down the PM's chair after the 2004 general elections. Natwar Singh says, “it was not her inner soul” but Rahul Gandhi's strong wish. Rahul, who had lost his father and grandmother, had fears that his mother's fate wouldbe similar. The autobiography reads: “Rahul said he was prepared to take any possible step… Rahul is a strong-willed person; this was no ordinary threat.”

Sonia Gandhi's residence was the real seat of power

Natwar Singh reportedly said that “10 Janpath” (Sonia Gandhi's residence) was the real seat of power of the UPA government, from where she controlled all political actions. Sonia had been discreetly monitoring the functioning of the important ministries in the UPA government, which reflected the "Machiavellian side to her character”.

Sonia Gandhi: “authoritarian” and “capricious” to “Machiavellian” and “secretive”

Natwar Singh has an entire chapter dedicated to Sonia Gandhi. Here he describes Gandhi's transformation from a nervous and shy woman to becoming an authoritarian leader. Her leadership style was extremely secretive, revealed Natwar Singh. While commenting on Sonia Gandhi's current role in politics, Singh went on to say that “her public image is not flattering”.

Secretly accessing confidential information

Singh reportedly said that he believes that the Ministry of External affairs probably had a “mole” and gave Sonia Gandhi confidential information. The former minister cited an incident in February 2005, when he had accompanied Afghan President Hamid Karzai to Janpath. Natwar got into a verbal argument with Sonia, who falsely accused him of involvement in defence deals. And that he was had passed files on certain defence deals to the then defence minister Pranab Mukherjee.

PV Narasimha Rao was second choice for PM post

Vice President Shankar Dayal Sharma was the first choice for the post of Prime Minister in 1991, as per Natwar Singhs. But due to his poor health, S D Sharma declined the post of PM. After that Sonia Gandhi chose PV Narasimha Rao as the PM.

Natwar Singh was the foreign minister in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-I government in the period 2004-2005. But Singh resigned in 2005 after the Iraqi food-for-oil scam. Singh's autobiography titled "One Life is Not Enough: An Autobiography" will be released soon.

(AW: Pratima Tigga)

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