Leader of Opposition Sonia Gandhi today kicked off a row in the Lok Sabha when she said ‘‘some people’’ had written to Indira Gandhi during the Emergency, requesting they be released from jail. Making an intervention when Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani mentioned the Emergency, Sonia said ‘‘one such letter is with me at my house.’’ This sparked off uproarious scenes with BJP members Vijay Kumar Malhotra, Ananth Kumar, Kirit Somaiyya and Shrichand Kriplani objecting to her remark. THEY ALL CAME TO WITNESS SONIA SALVO * Daughter Priyanka Gandhi. * Aides: Ambika Soni, Ahmed Patel, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Moti Lal Vora, Natwar Singh, Mohsina Kidwai, Suresh Pachauri. * From the states: Ashok Gehlot, H S Hanspal, Jagannath Pahadia. * Allies: Laloo Prasad Yadav, Praful Patel. Former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar too didn’t approve: ‘‘This kind of sweeping statement is very objectionable. If she has the letter, let her table it in the House instead of making such sweeping charges.’’ Malhotra was quick to counter Sonia, saying she was not a citizen of the country during the Emergency — 1975 to 1977 — when the letter was supposedly written. ‘‘How did the letter reach her?’’ he asked. But the reference to Sonia’s nationality invited strong protests from Congress members and Renuka Chowdhury almost entered the well of the House. Advani resumed his speech, saying ‘‘I will request Soniaji to answer the point raised by Chandra Shekharji. I will request her to give a clarification and table the letter in the House.’’ Trust her to turn up on mama’s big day EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, AUGUST 18: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was a surprise visitor today at Lok Sabha where her mother and Congress president Sonia Gandhi moved the no-confidence motion against the Vajpayee Government. Priyanka, accompanied by senior party leader Natwar Singh, arrived in the visitors’ gallery a couple of minutes before Sonia stood up to list reasons for moving the motion. As the news of Priyanka’s presence spread, the other galleries in the Lok Sabha soon started getting packed with Congressmen of all denominations. She seemed quite amused as Sonia referred to the grandiose but ineffective plans of the Government as ‘‘Mungeri Lal ke sunheri sapne’’. Priyanka’s special attention was caught by Lok Sabha MP Renuka Chowdhury who sought to shout down interruptions from the Treasury benches with considerable success. Sonia was followed by Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani, half-way during whose speech Priyanaka left the gallery. Speaking to The Indian Express, Priyanka said she found the debate good but refrained from commenting on Advani’s speech. The timing of her visit has fuelled speculation in the party circles on her much-debated entry into politics. When asked if her visit should be taken as any indication that she would be joining politics soon, Priyanka denied it. ‘‘Is this what it looks like?’’ she asked.
