Indira@100: PM, Sonia lead salutations

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 19

Congress president Sonia Gandhi led salutations to Indira Gandhi as a host of political leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, paid homage to the former Prime Minister on her 100th birth anniversary today.

Addressing a gathering at Indira Gandhi Memorial before inaugurating photo exhibition “A Life in Courage” chronicling the former PM’s life, Sonia remembered her “secular” mother-in-law saying, “For her as Prime Minister there was but one religion, a sacred creed passionately held—that all Indians were equal children of the motherland.”

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Present on the occasion was former President Pranab Mukherjee, who recalled the tumultuous phases in Indira’s life and how she thought taking the Operation Bluestar decision was essential for national good.

Sonia Gandhi spoke of Indira as someone who could “never tolerate bullying”.

“It was that rigorous schooling in the Independence movement that made her so staunch in defence of India’s sovereignty, so committed to the ideals of secularism and social justice, and so determined to advance them through her policies and programmes… She could not tolerate any form of bullying, coercion and unfairness—that was fundamental to her character. That is what inspired her in all her battles—those she took on and those that she faced,” Sonia Gandhi said on the eve of the Congress Working Committee meeting to call election to the post of next party president.

Remembering the finer aspects of Indira Gandhi’s character, Sonia said her mother-in-law was more than just “Iron Lady”.

“I have heard Indiraji being referred to as the Iron Lady. But iron was only one of the elements in her character; generosity and humanity were just as prominent traits. She fought, yes—but not for personal ascendancy. She fought for her principles, against vested interests and agendas,” Sonia said remembering Indira’s battle against poverty, and for India’s dignity and Independence as a sovereign nation against the dominance of superpowers.

“Bangladesh’s creation, in which she played so vital a part, is a monument to that stand, but many are the instances through which she brought to India international respect and admiration,” Sonia said commenting on 16 years that Indira was the PM.

Earlier in the day, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and his cousin Varun Gandhi took to Twitter to remember their “Dadi”.

“I remember you Dadi with so much love and happiness. You are my mentor and guide. You give me strength,” Rahul said, followed by Varun Gandhi who tweeted: “Courage is the most important of all virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently’. To a lady that was a mother to this nation. Miss you Dadi... I know you always watch over us.”

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, former PM Manmohan Singh, Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikaurjun Kharge, MoS Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel; Former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani and Rahul Gandhi earlier paid floral tributes to Indira Gandhi in the Central Hall of Parliament House.

The twitter also saw an outpouring of tributes on the occasion with PM saying, “Tributes to former PM Mrs Indira Gandhi on her birth anniversary.”

‘Never tolerated bullying’

"She (Indira Gandhi) could not tolerate any form of bullying, coercion and unfairness—that was fundamental to her character. That is what inspired her in all her battles—those she took on and those that she faced." Sonia Gandhi, Cong president

‘Dynasty a lazy word’

"Did Nehru launch a dynasty? No. Did Mrs Gandhi select her successor? Well, it appears that she did select her successor, but my views on dynasty in politics are somewhat different. I think ultimately, people (public representatives) have to go back and get elected… Dynasty is a lazy word coined to describe succession in politics. There is accountability, you go back to the people." Jairam Ramesh, Cong leader