Sonia Gandhi’s New Book: Modi’s Habit of ‘Formal Greetings’ and ‘Avoiding Eye Contact’
New Delhi | In her new book, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has, for the first time, articulated a clear stance regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the book titled *Belonging: A Journey of Love*, she writes that her direct, genuine interaction with Modi has been extremely limited. Yet, she notes that there are some points of commonality between them. The book is set to be published on November 10, 2026. According to a report by the *Hindustan Times*, Sonia Gandhi writes: “To this day, I have had almost no real interaction with him. Our meetings take place only at formal or semi-official events—for instance, in the Speaker of the Lok Sabha’s chamber. When we come face-to-face, we exchange formal greetings. Unlike in the past, when leaders from different political parties would interact with one another in a cordial manner, that is no longer the case. He often looks away and avoids making eye contact.” Sonia Gandhi states that her ideology and vision for India are fundamentally different from Modi’s. “He was striving for his vision of India, and I for mine. My India is one that stands against the hegemony of any single entity and champions inclusivity, secularism, and social justice. This was not personal.” Nevertheless, she acknowledges certain similarities; she writes that she, too, felt uncomfortable with the discussions held in the drawing rooms of Delhi’s elite, as those ideas seemed far removed from the reality of India. She has also noted another significant point regarding Modi: “He has certainly made his way from a disadvantaged background to the highest position of power within the RSS.” The book also covers various personal aspects of Sonia Gandhi’s life—her childhood in Italy; her meeting, romance, and marriage with Rajiv Gandhi; her experience of adapting to a new culture and family in India; her relationship with Indira Gandhi; and memories of raising Rahul and Priyanka. This is considered to be one of the most significant political commentaries by Sonia Gandhi in recent times.
.jpg)
