Mrs Gandhi was in Kottayam for the silver jubilee function of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology. Seen here with Chief Minisetr Oommen Chandy, she also inaugurated annual pilgrimage of Sivagiri Mutt.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi, in an emotionally charged speech, today slammed detractors of her late husband Rajiv Gandhi.
Mrs Gandhi, who was in Kottayam for the silver jubilee function of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology, hit back at those who criticised the former Prime Minister for leaning heavily on the development of information technology and telecommunication during his tenure.
"He was bitterly criticised, attacked, ridiculed and tagged as an elitist when he ushered in a revolution in the IT and telecommunication sector. But he persevered with it and today, yesterday's critics have now taken over the legacy of his," Mrs Gandhi said.
"Rajiv Gandhi brought India into the IT and telecommunication arena and now we are recognised as a leading player in this field," the Congress President said during her speech at the IT institute.
Mrs Gandhi at one point of time stuttered a little, but maintained poise and composure, and finished her speech.
The state-run institute is currently rated as one of the leading engineering colleges in the state. The institute was set up by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in his assembly constituency, when he was the state's finance minister in 1991. It was the first institution in the country named after Rajiv Gandhi.
During the function, Mr Chandy also took on his detractors, especially the BJP which criticised the state government for breaching protocol by inviting Mrs Gandhi - who is only a Lok Sabha member - to inaugurate a function at a state government organisation.
"It was in my budget speech in 1991 that I decided to set up this college. At that time, Sonia Gandhi was not an MP, nor was she in politics. Then we waited for 10 years to get her here, but on one occasion the date had to be changed after tsunami struck and the second time it had to be cancelled after elections were declared," he said.
Mr Chandy said the desire among people to bring Sonia Gandhi to Kerala was there for a long time.
"What has triumphed today has been the aspirations of the people, who wanted Sonia Gandhi to come and it has happened," he said.
Newly-appointed state BJP president Kummanem Rajashekeran, in a Facebook post, wanted to know the rationale behind inviting Mrs Gandhi for the function.