BJP burns Sonia Gandhi effigy in Ujjain over memoir 'Belonging'
Synopsis
BJP workers in Ujjain burned Sonia Gandhi's effigy over her memoir 'Belonging: A Journey of Love', alleging it mourned the Babri demolition but stayed silent on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The protest, led by sitting MP Anil Firojiya, is part of a wider BJP pushback that has swept Madhya Pradesh — turning a personal memoir into an election-season flashpoint.
Key Takeaways
BJP and BJYM workers burned Sonia Gandhi's effigy at Shaheed Park, Ujjain on 11 November 2026 .
The protest targeted her memoir 'Belonging: A Journey of Love' , alleging selective treatment of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots versus the Babri demolition .
The demonstration was led by Ujjain-Alot MP Anil Firojiya and UDA Chairman Ravi Solanki .
Firojiya posted about the protest on his X handle with photographs.
The Congress has described the book as a personal memoir; BJP has accused it of whitewashing the Nehru-Gandhi family's historical record.
Protests over the book have been reported across Madhya Pradesh and several other states.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh staged a demonstration on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, burning an effigy of senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and raising slogans against the party in response to her newly released memoir, 'Belonging: A Journey of Love'. The protest was held at Shaheed Park and drew large contingents of BJP and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) workers.
Who Led the Protest
The demonstration was led by Ujjain-Alot Member of Parliament Anil Firojiya and Ujjain Development Authority Chairman Ravi Solanki. Firojiya also shared a photograph of the event on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, writing: 'The Ujjain Rural unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a strong protest at Shaheed Park against the alleged misrepresentation of historical facts in the book 'Belonging: A Journey of Love,' authored by senior Congress leader Smt. Sonia Gandhi. The protesters held a rally and registered their opposition by burning an effigy of her.'
Key Allegations Against the Book
Addressing the gathering, MP Firojiya alleged that the memoir reflected a selective treatment of historical events. He claimed that while the book described Gandhi crying for two days following the demolition of the Babri structure, it expressed no sorrow over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the killing of Sikhs, or atrocities against women during that period. The BJP has accused the book of attempting to whitewash the historical record of the Nehru-Gandhi family, particularly in relation to the 1984 riots.
Congress Response and the Book's Context
The Congress has described 'Belonging: A Journey of Love' as a personal memoir rather than a political document. The party has not, according to available reports, issued a specific rebuttal to the claims raised at the Ujjain demonstration. The book's release has nonetheless triggered a chain of protests and statements from BJP leaders across Madhya Pradesh and other states, intensifying political debate within days of its publication.
Broader Political Context
Firojiya declared at the rally that the Congress had been 'practising politics of division and appeasement since 1947,' and asserted: 'The people will give a fitting reply to the Congress through their votes in the coming elections and will never allow the party to return to power.' Local BJP leaders said the party would continue highlighting what they described as double standards in Congress's approach to different communities and historical events. This comes amid a broader BJP campaign framing the Congress as practising 'tushtikaran' (appeasement politics), a charge the party has consistently denied.
What Happens Next
The protest remained largely peaceful. With the memoir continuing to circulate and BJP units in multiple states responding publicly, the controversy is unlikely to dissipate quickly. Further demonstrations or political statements from both sides are anticipated as the book reaches a wider readership.
Point of View
But tethering it to a personal memoir gives it renewed currency and media oxygen. What is notably absent from the coverage is any direct response from the Congress addressing the specific historical claims Firojiya raised — a silence that cedes the narrative ground. If the party's rebuttal remains at the level of 'it's just a memoir,' BJP units in other states will almost certainly stage similar protests, keeping the controversy alive well beyond the book's initial news cycle.
NationPress
11 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sonia Gandhi's book 'Belonging: A Journey of Love' about?
'Belonging: A Journey of Love' is a memoir by senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. The Congress has described it as a personal account, while the BJP has alleged it misrepresents historical facts related to the Nehru-Gandhi family.
Why did the BJP protest against Sonia Gandhi's book in Ujjain?
The BJP alleged that the book described Gandhi grieving the demolition of the Babri structure but contained no expression of sorrow over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Workers burned her effigy at Shaheed Park on 11 November, calling the memoir an attempt to whitewash history.
Who led the BJP protest in Ujjain?
The protest was led by Ujjain-Alot MP Anil Firojiya and Ujjain Development Authority Chairman Ravi Solanki, with large contingents of BJP and BJYM workers participating.
Has the protest been limited to Ujjain?
No. Reports indicate that BJP leaders across Madhya Pradesh and other states have issued statements and staged protests since the book's release, making the controversy a nationwide political flashpoint.
What did MP Anil Firojiya say about the Congress at the protest?
Firojiya alleged that the Congress had practised politics of division and appeasement since 1947 and declared that voters would give the party 'a fitting reply' in coming elections. He also posted images and a description of the protest on his X handle.
