‘Not going to allow our baby to be thrown into the river’: Sonia Gandhi recalls death of her firstborn in memoir

Former Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has revealed in her memoir that she was deeply concerned when her son Rahul Gandhi appeared without security during a crucial leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Srinagar in January 2023. The yatra aimed to foster harmony and unity against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance.

Sonia recounted her panic when Rahul was completely surrounded by throngs of people, leaving him without visible security cover. The Yatra had to be paused for a day until the security arrangements were restored. The Kashmir leg concluded as the weather turned inclement, with Rahul, along with Kashmiri leaders Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, and Priyanka Gandhi, walking through swirling snowfall.

Sonia expressed relief and pride upon her son's safe return, noting a renewed light in his face. She emphasized the yatra's message of unity and concord, encapsulated in the slogan "Nafrat ke bazaar mein mohabbat ki dukan kholo" - "In the marketplace of hatred, open the store of love." The Yatra was a significant step towards opposition unity, with Rahul serving as the embodiment of this message.