Sonia Gandhi's Emotional Response to Rajiv Gandhi's Prime Ministerial Announcement

A Tragic Day in Indian History

On October 31, 1984, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated. At that time, her son Rajiv Gandhi was addressing a rally in West Bengal. Upon receiving the devastating news of his mother's death, he rushed back to Delhi. Upon arrival, he went directly to the hospital where Sonia Gandhi was already present. Rajiv informed Sonia that he was expected to become the Prime Minister following his mother's demise, as the party desired.

Sonia's Reaction to Rajiv's Announcement

In her new book, Sonia recounts this poignant moment. Indira Gandhi was shot by her bodyguards at her official residence located at 1 Safdarjung Road in New Delhi. Reflecting on their meeting at the hospital, Sonia expressed her desire to have a moment alone with her husband. She soon realized that Rajiv was about to share news she dreaded.

Sonia wrote, "We were holding each other, and as he spoke, I understood he was saying something I did not want to hear." During their conversation, Rajiv mentioned, 'I have been told to take the oath as the next Prime Minister of the country.' This revelation filled Sonia with anger and fear for Rajiv's safety.

Why Sonia Was Upset

Sonia described her feelings vividly, stating, "It felt as if a knife had been plunged into my heart. I could feel my heart racing. Anger surged within me, and I was on the verge of exploding. I tried to contain it." She questioned why Rajiv was being urged to take on such a responsibility and implored him to refuse the position. Overcome with emotion, Sonia began to cry and pleaded with Rajiv not to accept the role.

Rajiv's Response to Sonia's Plea

Sonia urged Rajiv, saying, "No, you cannot even think about this. You must stop them. You have to refuse for the sake of the children. You cannot do this to us. They will kill you." Rajiv's response was chilling: "They will kill me anyway."