Congress leader Sushil Kumar Shinde on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, came out in defence of Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi over her memoir Belonging: A Journey of Love, which references Operation Blue Star, the demolition of the Babri Masjid, and her observations on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The memoir has set off a fresh round of political exchanges between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Shinde on Operation Blue Star and Babri Masjid

Speaking to reporters, former Union Home Minister Shinde said Sonia Gandhi had addressed several defining moments in Indian history and offered her personal perspective on each of them. 'Look, several things have happened in India's history, some good and some bad. She must have discussed all of them and explained her views. She must have also spoken openly about the events that took place in our country and the damage they caused, including the losses suffered by the party and, to some extent, the country. She must have shared everything wholeheartedly. However, I will comment on it after reading the book,' Shinde said.

On Operation Blue Star — the military operation carried out at the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar in June 1984 — Shinde said the memoir would contain Sonia Gandhi's account of those events. 'She must have also mentioned everything about Operation Blue Star. Indira Gandhi and Punjab could never have been separated, but what could be done? Those who carried out the operation did so as part of their duty,' he said.

Emotion and Duty: The Gandhi-Nehru Family Response

Responding to Sonia Gandhi's reported remark that she was moved to tears when the Babri Masjid was demolished in December 1992, Shinde said the Gandhi-Nehru family had always engaged with major historical events from an emotional standpoint. 'Whether it was Babri or Operation Blue Star, the Gandhi-Nehru family is very emotional. They have dealt with and expressed all these matters from the heart. So, there must certainly have been tears in their eyes and pain in their hearts, but on one side there were emotions and on the other was a sense of duty,' he said.

This is notably the first time in recent years that senior Congress leaders have publicly elaborated on the party's internal emotional response to events like the Babri demolition, lending a personal dimension to what has long been a politically charged debate.

Shinde Pushes Back Against BJP Criticism

Shinde also defended Sonia Gandhi against criticism from the BJP that followed the memoir's release, underscoring her decision to settle in India and her decades of public service. 'The BJP will keep saying such things; they have nothing else to do. But will they ever reflect on the sacrifices Sonia Gandhi has made for this country? A woman from a foreign country came to India and dedicated everything she had to this nation. There will be fewer people who come from outside and make India their own,' he said.

He added: 'Sonia Gandhi is such a leader who did not think about returning after she came to India. She gave her all to this nation till the end of her time.'

Congress Leader Soz Attacks Modi Over Secular Credentials

Separately, senior Congress leader Saifuddin Soz used the memoir's release as an occasion to sharply criticise Prime Minister Modi's political approach. Soz said Modi's rhetoric was incompatible with India's secular framework. 'The BJP is no longer what it used to be. Modi sahab wants to maintain closer ties with the RSS, and because of this, he has taken a different path. In Urdu, this is called 'being misled',' Soz said.

Soz further argued that Modi's recent remarks in Rajasthan, which he said targeted Muslims as a community, were unbecoming of a Prime Minister. 'How can a Prime Minister who continues to divide India's entire population into separate groups, such as Hindus and Muslims, serve the country? His outlook is not clear. Sonia Gandhi also points to this. That is why Modi ji cannot look Sonia Gandhi in the eye and speak to her,' Soz added.

Political Fallout from the Memoir

The release of Belonging: A Journey of Love has triggered a wider political storm, with Congress leaders rallying around Sonia Gandhi's account while leaders from the BJP and other opposition parties have contested several of its claims and references. The memoir's candid treatment of episodes like Operation Blue Star and the Babri Masjid demolition — events that continue to shape India's political identity — ensures that the debate will extend well beyond literary circles. All eyes are now on the BJP's formal response and whether the Congress will use the memoir's narrative to frame the party's position ahead of upcoming electoral contests.