Sonia Gandhi Struggled To Learn Indian Ways, Disliked Politics When She Came From Italy: Priyanka In Karnataka

Priyanka Gandhi said she had been brought up by two brave and strong women -- her grandmother Indira Gandhi and mother Sonia Gandhi.

File photo of Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi

In a speech delivered at a convention organized by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, daughter of Sonia Gandhi and Congress general secretary, spoke about the struggles and challenges her mother faced when she first came to India from Italy. 

She spoke about how Sonia Gandhi had to learn Indian traditions and culture and how she fell in love with her husband Rajiv Gandhi at the age of 21. 

"She (Sonia) came all the way from Italy to India to get married to him. She struggled to learn our traditions. She learnt the ways of India. She imbibed everything from Indiraji and at the age of 44, she lost her husband. Even though she disliked politics, she took the path to serving the nation and she served it all her life till today when she is 76 years old," Priyanka Gandhi said.

Priyanka also spoke about how her grandmother, Indira Gandhi, was also a strong and brave woman who continued to serve the nation until her death. She also mentioned that she learned a very important thing from both Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, as well as from hundreds of ordinary women who struggle every day in life. 

"No matter what happens to you in your life, no matter how big a tragedy you face, how deep your struggles are... whether at home or work or outside, you have the capacity to stand up and fight for yourself," Priyanka said.

Priyanka, in her Karnataka Assembly poll pitch, said the Congress will provide Rs 2,000 monthly stipend to every housewife if elected. Speaking at the convention, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi stated: " I want to ask a question, under BJP govt, has your life become better? Did anything change in your life? Look at past few years and evaluate your life before voting." 

Slamming the BJP-led Karnataka govt, Gandhi said: "I have been told that situation in Karnataka is very bad, Rs 1.5 lakh cr money has been lost through corruption. PSI scam is really shameful, you educate your children & this is what you get from politicians in power."