Bengaluru, Nov 10 — Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Tuesday hit back at the BJP over its criticism of former AICC President Sonia Gandhi’s autobiography, saying the book reflected her thoughts and her story and that those objecting to it should deal with their own concerns.
Reacting to the BJP describing the release of Sonia Gandhi’s book, "Belonging: A Journey of Love", as “whitewashing” rather than “belonging”, Priyank Kharge, son of AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, said the party was unnecessarily bothered by an autobiography.
“Why are they so bothered? It is an autobiography. It is her thoughts. It is her story. If you have a problem with it, it is your problem. Deal with it,” he said.
Priyank Kharge said the BJP would view the book through a negative lens and attempt to give it a communal colour.
“I am telling you right now that these people are going to view it through a very, very negative lens. They are going to give it a communal colour. They are going to have some problem with it. For the next month, they are just going to talk about this. They have no other work,” he said.
Drawing a comparison with former Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani's autobiography, Priyank Kharge said Advani had praised Pakistan in his book and questioned what the BJP had to say about it.
“It is their view. I cannot write my autobiography based on the BJP’s views, can I? These are my thoughts and my views. I will put them forward. If you have a problem with it, deal with it. That is your problem, not mine,” he said.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Minister for ST Welfare T. Raghumurthy welcomed the release of Sonia Gandhi's autobiography and described it as an extraordinary work filled with insights.
Raghumurthy said he had received a copy of Belonging: A Journey of Love and had begun reading it, adding that he was eager to complete the book.
“It is a life story in which the ideas of belonging and public service are interwoven. One can realise that it is an extraordinary work after turning just a few pages,” he said.
The Minister said the book provided several insights into Sonia Gandhi's association with one of the country's prominent families, her relationship with her husband and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, and the different stages of her life thereafter.
He said the book had been narrated with great warmth and intimacy and appealed to everyone to read it.
Raghumurthy said experiencing the “Journey of Love” would help readers better understand the values of life.
He added that everyone should read the book and experience its special essence.