SEPT 21- Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is not happy with Sushma Swaraj’s statement on Sonia Gandhi. BJP sources say Modi is of the opinion that Sonia’s foreign origin issue is dead now.
Modi thinks that the party needs to focus more on corruption and other issues. He also believes that the party had to pay heavily during previous elections because of the foreign origin issue.
The issue of Gandhi’s foreign origin had cropped up yet again on Thursday with Swaraj saying she is still opposed to the idea of her becoming Prime Minister.
She also appeared to be unapologetic about the vow she had taken in May 2004 to shave off her hair if Gandhi became the Prime Minister.
“I have always maintained that Sonia Gandhi came to our country as daughter-in-law of Indira Gandhi and wife of Rajiv Gandhi and thus she is entitled to our love and affection. As the president of the Congress party she is entitled to our respect. But if she wants to become the Prime Minister then I say no,” Swaraj said at a book launch.
Congress on Friday dismissed as “very, very immature” Sushma Swaraj’s remarks on Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origin, saying the Congress chief can become Prime Minister “tomorrow if the party decides” and she doesn’t need anybody else’s approval.
“Definitely, if Sonia Gandhi is to become Prime Minister, she does not need approval of Sushma Swaraj. If Indian National Congress decides, Sonia Gandhi can take over as Prime Minister tomorrow, in 24 hours. That does not need anybody’s support, anybody’s okay. If she decides she can take Prime Ministership any day. She had many, many opportunities before to become Prime Minister… She was offered Prime Ministership on platter. She refused it. There is no parallel in history,” party spokesman P.C. Chacko told reporters.
INDIA TODAY
