File photo of Sushma Swaraj
The issue of Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin cropped up yet again today with Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushma Swaraj saying she was still opposed to the idea of her becoming the Prime Minister.
She also appeared to be unapologetic about the vow she had taken in May 2004 to shave off her hair if Mrs Gandhi became the Prime Minister.
"I have always maintained that Sonia Gandhi came to our country as daughter-in-law of Indira Gandhi and wife of Rajiv Gandhi and thus she is entitled to our love and affection. As the president of the Congress party she is entitled to our respect. But if she wants to become the Prime Minister then I say no," Ms Swaraj said at a book launch.
She was responding to Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh's veiled attack on her as to why she had threatened to shave off her head when there was talk of Mrs Gandhi becoming the Prime Minister in 2004 after the defeat of the NDA.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha noted that the country was under foreign rule for over 150 years and many had sacrificed their lives for its freedom.
"If after 60 years of independence, if we coronate another foreigner for the top job then it would have meant that 100 crore people were incapable... It would be hurting the sensibility of the people. This was my purpose of fighting the Bellary elections (1999) and it was a mission for me. In Bellary, I lost the battle, but won the war," she said.