BJP attacks Sonia Gandhi's memoir 'The Belonging', calls it a Congress cover-up
Synopsis
Sonia Gandhi's memoir 'The Belonging' has triggered a coordinated BJP offensive, with senior leaders accusing her of whitewashing the Emergency, the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, and UPA-era scams. The JD(U) has also pushed back over the book's portrayal of Nitish Kumar — signalling the memoir has become a political flashpoint well beyond literary circles.
Key Takeaways
BJP MP Tarun Chugh alleged Sonia Gandhi's memoir 'The Belonging' was written by a ghostwriter and covers up the Gandhi family's political record.
BJP Keralam President Rajeev Chandrasekhar accused the book of blaming the Indian Army and General Vaidya for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots , based on excerpts he read on social media.
BJP leader Manmeet Singh alleged the memoir omits the National Herald , Bofors , and 2G scams associated with the UPA government.
BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi described the memoir as reading more like 'political satire than a personal memoir.' JD(U) spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan pushed back against the book's portrayal of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar as having sought excuses to exit the INDIA bloc .
The Congress had not issued a formal response to the BJP's specific allegations as of publication.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday, 12 November 2026, launched a coordinated attack on Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi over her memoir 'The Belonging', with multiple senior party leaders alleging the book is less a personal account and more a deliberate attempt to obscure the Gandhi family's political record.
Key Allegations from BJP Leaders
BJP MP Tarun Chugh was among the first to strike, saying, 'Sonia Gandhi's book appears to be less of an autobiography and more of an attempt to cover up the Himalayan mistakes and misdeeds of the Gandhi family. It seems that Maino's Manohar Kahaniyan, written by a ghostwriter, has been presented before the country.' Chugh alleged the memoir trivialises the Emergency period by calling it 'merely a mistake', glossing over what he described as mass arrests, press censorship, constitutional violations, and the suppression of democracy. He also flagged the book's silence on the 1984 military operation at Sri Harmandir Sahib, saying 'the wounds of which are still fresh.'
Chandrasekhar on the 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots
BJP Keralam President Rajeev Chandrasekhar criticised the memoir's handling of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Speaking based on excerpts he said he had read on social media, Chandrasekhar alleged, 'She is trying to blame the Indian Army and General Vaidya for the heinous crimes committed against Sikhs in 1984.' He added, 'Indians will never fall for this or forget the crimes committed by the Congress party, particularly the 1984 genocide. She should have called the book 'whitewashing' rather than whatever else she has called it.' Chandrasekhar acknowledged he had not read the full book.
UPA Scams and the 'Super PM' Charge
BJP leader Manmeet Singh questioned what he characterised as notable omissions in the memoir, alleging it failed to address controversies linked to the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. 'She has not mentioned the National Herald, Bofors or 2G scams, or the scams that took place in the country during the UPA government,' Singh said, adding that Sonia Gandhi had used then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as a 'front' while effectively running the government herself. BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi echoed similar concerns, asserting the book read more like 'political satire than a personal memoir.'
JD(U) Weighs in on Nitish Kumar Portrayal
The controversy extended beyond the BJP. Janata Dal (United) National Spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan reacted to the memoir's characterisation of former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is depicted as having sought excuses to exit the INDIA bloc due to his proximity to the BJP. Ranjan called the portrayal a reflection of 'Congress leaders' frustration,' pushing back against what he described as an objectionable depiction of Kumar.
Context and What Comes Next
The release of 'The Belonging' has reignited longstanding BJP narratives around Congress governance, the Emergency, and the events of 1984 — fault lines that have repeatedly surfaced during election cycles. Notably, this is not the first time a Congress leader's public statement or publication has drawn organised BJP counter-messaging; the party has used similar occasions to consolidate its core voter base. The Congress has not issued a formal response to the BJP's specific allegations as of the time of publication. How the Gandhi family and the broader Congress leadership responds could shape the memoir's public reception in the days ahead.
Point of View
Multi-voice response to 'The Belonging' is less a literary critique and more a pre-emptive political offensive — an attempt to shape public framing of the memoir before the Congress can build momentum around it. What is striking is the breadth of the attack: Emergency, 1984, UPA-era scams, and the Nitish Kumar subplot are all longstanding BJP electoral themes now being re-amplified through the book's release. The JD(U)'s independent intervention signals that the memoir may complicate Nitish Kumar's standing within the NDA. Notably, none of the BJP leaders quoted claim to have read the book in full — their critique rests on excerpts, suggesting the party is reacting to the narrative optics rather than the substance. That in itself may undercut the credibility of the attack if the Congress chooses to engage on specifics.
NationPress
12 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sonia Gandhi's memoir 'The Belonging' about?
'The Belonging' is a memoir by Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi. It has drawn political controversy for its handling of the Emergency period, the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, and its portrayal of leaders such as Nitish Kumar, prompting sharp reactions from the BJP and the JD(U).
Why is the BJP attacking Sonia Gandhi's book?
BJP leaders allege the memoir downplays the Emergency as 'merely a mistake,' omits major UPA-era scams including 2G and Bofors, and attempts to shift blame for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots onto the Indian Army. They argue the book is a political whitewash rather than a genuine personal account.
What did BJP's Rajeev Chandrasekhar say about the 1984 riots?
BJP Keralam President Rajeev Chandrasekhar alleged, based on social media excerpts, that the memoir tries to blame the Indian Army and General Vaidya for the 1984 anti-Sikh violence. He acknowledged he had not read the full book but called on Sonia Gandhi to not rewrite history.
Why did the JD(U) react to the memoir?
JD(U) National Spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan objected to the memoir's characterisation of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is reportedly depicted as having looked for excuses to leave the INDIA bloc due to closeness with the BJP. Ranjan said the portrayal reflected Congress's frustration rather than reality.
Has Congress responded to the BJP's criticism of the memoir?
As of publication, the Congress had not issued a formal response to the specific allegations raised by BJP leaders regarding 'The Belonging.' The party's counter-narrative, if any, is expected to emerge as the book's public rollout continues.
