Sonia Gandhi Reveals Heartbreaking Truth About Rajiv Gandhi's Assassination Photo

In her new memoir, Sonia Gandhi shares a poignant revelation about her late husband Rajiv Gandhi's assassination. Despite the passage of over thirty years, she has never seen the photograph of his remains, as her children took measures to shield her from the traumatic image. This heartfelt account sheds light on the protective instincts of Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, who prioritized their mother's emotional well-being during a time of immense tragedy. Discover more about this touching story and the impact of Rajiv Gandhi's assassination.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 10, 2026, 19:49 IST

A Mother's Pain: Sonia Gandhi's Revelation

New Delhi: Over thirty years after the tragic assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi by an LTTE suicide bomber, Sonia Gandhi, the Congress leader, has yet to view the photograph of her husband's remains taken post-explosion.

In her memoir titled 'Belonging: A Journey of Love', Sonia reveals that her children, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, intentionally kept the distressing image from her. They instructed their staff to ensure that no newspapers or magazines reached her without prior approval.

Rahul and Priyanka had made it clear that any media content should not be handed to her directly, emphasizing the need for vetting to protect her from the traumatic visuals of their father's death that circulated in the media.

Sonia expressed that her children took on a parental role, shielding her from the painful reality of their father's assassination.

To this day, she has not seen the image of Rajiv's remains following the explosion, as noted by the president of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP).

Rajiv Gandhi was killed on May 21, 1991, when a female LTTE suicide bomber, disguised as a garland presenter, detonated explosives during an election rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, resulting in his death along with 14 others.