
NEW DELHI, MAY 23: Buckling under intense pressure from party leaders and frenzied workers, Sonia Gandhi is reported to have indicated her inclination to attend the AICC session on May 25 as 8220;an active Congress worker.8221;
Sources at 10 Janpath, however, refused to commit whether she would go as far as withdrawing her resignation from the post of party president under the same pressure.
However, Sonia will certainly use the opportunity to turn tables on Sharad Pawar, P A Sangma and Tariq Anwar. And if the speech writers are to be believed, she would ask the people through the delegates 8212; 8220;Mera Kasoor Kya Hai8221;? 8220;What is my Crime?8221;.
Interestingly, till recently, it was Atal Behari Vajpayee who was going to town after the fall of his government with slogans such as 8212; What was my crime? Why Sonia pulled down my government? Why this Italian woman wants to replace a competent PM?
And now Sonia is likely to ask 8212; Was it a crime if Rajiv, a son-of-soil, brought her to India and marriedaccording to the Hindu traditions? Can8217;t an Italian-born woman marry an Indian? Was it a crime if she assisted Indira Gandhi as a true Indian bahu daughter-in-law? Was it a crime if she took a vow, along with her husband, that their bodies be cremated as per the Hindu traditions after their death?
Sonia is also likely to remind the people that she was not interested in politics even after the death of her husband and resisted pressures for seven long years. Was it a crime to look after the children left behind by the assassinated leaders, she is likely to ask.
On the sensitive rebels issue, Sonia is expected to tell the delegates that if she was forced to join politics, it was at the instance of all those Sharad Pawar inclusive who are now raising doubts about her loyalty to the country.
Sonia8217;s two children, Rahul and Priyanka, are reported to be assisting her in the worst-ever crisis of her 15-month long political career.
Significantly, Sonia hinted yesterday itself that she may attendthe AICC session. Ahmed Patel, party8217;s treasurer, who met her twice, would not say that she would come back. But he went to the extent of admitting, 8220;my gut feeling is that she is coming.8221;