Everything you need to know about Sonia Gandhi: news, reviews, in-depth analysis, opinion and more
The latest inheritor of Nehru-Gandhi dynasty Sonia Gandhi has assumed office as the president of Indian National Congress from 1997 till now. Sonia, born and brought up in the nation of Italy fortunately fell in love with the scion of Nehru Dynasty, Rajib Gandhi in Cambridge University where she was in study. Thus they married and a national of Italy crept in to Nehru-Gandhi family and received the citizenship of India in 1983. Sonia was a luminary person though not interested in politics. When Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in 1991, the leadership of INC fell on her shoulders and was given to Narasimha Rao. But again she took it as Congress made devastating result in polls through out India. By the effective leadership of this lady congress made momentous victory in 2004 parliamentary poll thus her hand proved to be auspicious in bringing back to INC in power what it had lost for 14 years. For her extraordinary leadership quality and making Indian National Congress A-One political party, Sonia Gandhi was placed in the 6th rank in the Forbes list of the best and most powerful 100 women in the world. As the chairperson of INC Sonia Gandhi brought a revival in Indian society with many more welfare projects for the women, downtrodden, and the backward castes and peoples. It has got more recognition from the people of India and home country along with some decries like Bofors case.
New Delhi, May 3 (ANI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday afternoon.
New Delhi, May 3 (IANS) The Congress is hoping for the support of the Trinamool Congress in the presidential polls when West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee meets party chief Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh later Thursday.
New DelhiAhmedabad, May 2 (IANS) A Congress MP from Gujarat, Prabha Kishor Taviad, broke down in the Lok Sabha Wednesday as her colleague Girija Vyas recounted how she was allegedly punched and dragged by the hair by Gujarat Police to prevent her from reaching the venue of a function being presided over by state Chief Minister Narendra Modi. The Gujarat government defended the police action saying it was out of 'compulsion'.
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New Delhi, May 2 (IANS) A Congress MP from Gujarat, Prabha Kishor Taviad, broke down in the Lok Sabha Wednesday as her colleague Girija Vyas recounted how she was allegedly punched and dragged by the hair by Gujarat Police to prevent her from reaching the venue of a function being presided over by state Chief Minister Narendra Modi. MPs condemned the incident and demanded justice for Kishor.
Guwahati, May 2 (IANS) Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Wednesday cut short his Amethi visit to fly to Dhubri in Assam and express solidarity with the relatives of the ferry tragedy victims.
Kolkata, May 2 (IANS) With Congress looking for support for presidential polls, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee was Wednesday tightlipped but said she will try to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi to enquire about her health.
Taking strong action for the party debacle in the recently held assembly election in Uttar Pradesh,
Lucknow, May 2 (IANS) Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Wednesday dropped enough hints about a major shake up in the Uttar Pradesh unit of the party, saying no one would be spared for the poor showing in the February-March assembly elecctions.
Guwahati, May 2 (IANS) Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi is Wednesday expected to visit the site of the boat tragedy in Assam's Dhubri district that is feared to have claimed 270 lives.
New Delhi, May 2 (ANI): Congress spokesperson Janardhan Dwivedi has clarified that a private member's bill on restraining the media, which was submitted by Meenakshi Natarajan contains the personal views of the lawmaker, and added that she did not take the approval of Rahul Gandhi before submitting it.
New Delhi, May 1 (IANS) The Congress Tuesday distanced itself from a bill on media regulation proposed by Meenakshi Natarajan, a Lok Sabha MP and an aide of party general secretary Rahul Gandhi, even as Press Council of India chairman Markandey Katju accused the media of diverting interest from national issues.
Shimla, May 1 (IANS) The opposition Congress in Himachal Pradesh Tuesday announced it would stage public rallies in the state beginning this month to project its united face in the run up to assembly polls due later this year.
New Delhi, May 1 (IANS) Demanding better remuneration and abolition of anti-worker policies of the government, the All India Federation for Trade Unions (AIFTU) Tuesday protested in the capital on International Workers' Day or May Day.
New Delhi, April 30 (IANS) With Vice-President Hamid Ansari and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee emerging as probable Congress choices for the presidential polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday ruled out supporting either of them and said the party was open to supporting a candidate chosen by non-Congress parties.
New Delhi, Apr 30 (ANI): Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Monday rubbished Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray's allegations that the 'Dirty Picture' side of the ruling Congress Party had come to the fore through the nomination of master blaster Sachin Tendulkar to the Rajya Sabha.
Guwahati, April 30 (IANS) The Congress party's Assam state unit Monday sought to end the over-week long speculation about Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's probable nomination as vice president, saying his services were required more in the state than in New Delhi.
New Delhi, Apr 30 (ANI): Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Monday said cricketer Sachin Tendulkar's nomination to Rajya Sabha is perfectly valid under the provisions of the Constitution.
After the major debacle of the Congress in the recently held Uttar Pradesh assembly election, party general secretary Rahul Gandhi visited to Amethi to
Lucknow, Apr 30 (ANI): Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi arrived here on Monday to take part in a post- Assembly poll review.
Amethi (Uttar Pradesh), April 30 (IANS) Hoping to 're-motivate' party workers in his parliamentary constituency, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi arrived here Monday on a three-day visit, his first after the party's defeat in the state assembly elections.
New Delhi, April 30 (IANS) The National Advisory Council (NAC) has pulled up the central government for failing to formulate a social security package for India's 430-million informal sector workers even though the Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act (UWSSA) was passed three years ago.
Bhopal, Apr 29(ANI): Newly appointed Governor of Uttarakhand and senior Congressman, Aziz Qureshi, today said that his appointment was a result of the blessings of the Congress chief, Sonia Gandhi. He was addressing media persons here.
Chennai, April 29 (IANS) With the presidential polls round the corner, Defence Minister A.K. Antony met DMK chief M. Karunanidhi here Sunday, saying "we always value his advice".
Chennai, April 29 (IANS) With the presidential polls round the corner, Defence Minister A.K. Antony met DMK chief M. Karunanidhi here Sunday, saying "we always value his advice".
Defence Minister A.K.Antony today met DMK chief and former Tamilnadu chief minister Karunanidhi in regards of a consensus for the candidate
Chennai, Apr 29 (ANI): Defence Minister AK Antony on Sunday met Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) chief M Karunanidhi to build a consensus for the Congress-led UPA Government's candidate for the presidential election.
Tumkur, Apr 28 (ANI): Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi arrived in the Karnataka to woo voters from the Lingayat community and attend the birthday celebrations of the highly respected Lingayat seer Shivakumara Swami at the 'Siddaganga Mutt' in Tumkur District.
Mumbai, April 28 (IANS) Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi visited drought-hit villages of Maharashtra's Satara district for two and a half hours Saturday but did not any announce any relief measure.
New Delhi, April 28 (IANS) The Congress leadership is considering some senior leaders and retired officials for appointment as governors in view of Raj Bhavan vacancies in some states, party sources said Saturday.
Bangalore, April 28 (IANS) Congress party president Sonia Gandhi, in a short trip to Karnataka Saturday, met drought-hit villagers, attended a 104-year-old religious leader's birthday celebrations and addressed party workers from the state.
Itanagar, Apr 28 (ANI): Former Army chief and Arunachal Pradesh Governor J.J. Singh has been conferred with the Mahatma Gandhi Seva Award (MGSA) in recognition of his yeoman service to the people of the state.
Mumbai, April 28 (IANS) As Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi began his one-day tour of drought-hit areas of Maharashtra's Satara district Saturday, he became the third Gandhi after his late father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and mother Sonia Gandhi to visit the region, though little has changed there in all these decades.
Satara, Apr 28 (ANI): Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi visited the drought-hit regions in Mumbai's Satara District on Saturday, and assured the locals that the government would come up with a proper solution to help them get rid of all their problems.
Shimla, April 28 (IANS) As Himachal Pradesh goes to the polls for its 68 assembly seats later this year, the faction-ridden opposition Congress has begun an exercise to put its house in order with the hope of ousting the Prem Kumar Dhumal-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.
Mumbai, April 28 (IANS) Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi arrived in Satara town Saturday morning for a visit to nearby drought-hit areas of Maharashtra, an official said.
Mumbai, April 28 (IANS) Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi arrived at Satara district Saturday morning for a visit to drought-hit areas there, an official said.
Indian Cricket legend, Sachin Tendulkar who on Thursday accepted the proposal of being a Rajya Sabha (the upper house of Parliament) member has received mixed response over it..........
Kolkata/New Delhi, Apr 27 (ANI): India's sporting heroes have given a mixed reaction to the UPA-II Government's decision to nominate cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar to the Rajya Sabha.
New Delhi, Apr 27 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticised the Congress President Sonia Gandhi over the UPA-II Government's ' hesitation' to re-investigate the 1985-86 Bofors scam.
New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar will now play the new role of a parliamentarian with President Pratibha Patil Thursday approving his nomination to the Rajya Sabha, along with that of renowned actor Rekha and businesswoman Anu Aga.
Mumbai, April 26 (IANS) The reactions of Mumbaikars varied to batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar's nomination to the Rajya Sabha, with some welcoming the move and others critical of his new role, which will deprive him from playing.
New Delhi, Apr 26 (ANI): President Pratibha Devisingh Patil has reportedly approved nomination of batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar and veteran actor Rekha to the Rajya Sabha.
New Delhi, April 26 (ANI): The Congress has reportedly recommended cricketer Sachin Tendulkar's name for a nominated seat in the Rajya Sabha.
Mumbai/Lucknow, April 26 (IANS) In his first major political engagements outside the national capital after the recent assembly polls, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi will visit Maharashtra this week and his parliamentary constituency Amethi in Uttar Pradesh later this month.
New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) The government is likely to bring changes in its flagship rural job scheme to remove disparity between wages given under it and the minimum wages fixed in states, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said Thursday.
New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) Almost a quarter century after it surfaced, the Bofors payoff scandal created a storm again Thursday, disrupting parliament, as the opposition vociferously demanded a fresh probe into the deal that has long haunted the Congress.
New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar met Congress president Sonia Gandhi Thursday amid speculation in party circles that he would be nominated to the Rajya Sabha.
New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) Asserting that truth had come out repeatedly and courts had given their verdicts, the Congress Thursday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of levelling irresponsible allegations in the Bofors payoff controversy on the basis of remarks of a retired Swedish police chief.
Lucknow, April 26 (IANS) Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi would be in his Amethi parliamentary constituency in Uttar Pradesh from April 30-May 2. This would be his first visit to the state after the party's drubbing in the assembly polls, party sources said Wednesday.
Mumbai, April 26 (IANS) Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi arrives here Friday on a two-day visit to Maharashtra during which he will visit some drought-hit regions, a party office bearer said here.
The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today reportedly has written a letter to President of India Pratibha Devi Singh Patil..........
The latest disclosure of Bofors pay off scam by its whistleblower who to gave clean-chit to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and erstwhile leader and Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan in his statement, has once again created strom in Indian politics and a tug of war has begun between Congress-led UPA government and BJP led-opposition...............
New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) Almost a quarter century after it surfaced, the Bofors payoff scandal created a storm again Tuesday disrupting parliament, as the opposition vociferously demanded a fresh probe into the deal that has long haunted the Congress.
New Delhi, April 25 (IANS) Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar Wednesday met Congress president Sonia Gandhi to evolve "consensus" on the presidential election due in July.
New Delhi, Apr 25 (ANI): Union Law and Justice Minister Salman Khurshid on Wednesday said that former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had no role to play in the Bofors Gun case, and added that there was no need to reopen the case.
Mumbai, April 25 (IANS) Expressing his happiness over his name being cleared from the Bofors payoff scam, mega-star Amitabh Bachchan, however, said that he is "pained" that it came 25 years.
Chronology of events since the 1986 Bofors howitzer payoff scandal - one of the biggest corruption scandals in India in which then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and many others were accused of receiving kickbacks from the Swedish gun manufacturer and which was called India's 'Watergate' by a New York court after it led to the fall of the Rajiv Gandhi government.
New Delhi, April 25 (IANS) The Bofors ghost returned to haunt the Congress Wednesday with former Swedish police chief Sten Lindstrom giving a clean chit to the late Rajiv Gandhi in the payoff scandal but also saying that he just 'watched the massive cover-up' and the guilty, Italian Ottavio Quattrocchi, got away.
New Delhi, April 25 (IANS) The Congress Wednesday dismissed rumours that five union cabinet ministers had offered to quit and work to strengthen the party and denied that any such communication has been made to party chief Sonia Gandhi.
Chronology of events since the 1986 Bofors howitzer payoff scandal - one of the biggest corruption scandals in India in which then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and many others were accused of receiving kickbacks from the Swedish gun manufacturer and which was called India's 'Watergate' by a New York court after it led to the fall of the Rajiv Gandhi government.
New Delhi, April 25 (IANS) The following is a chronology of events since the 1986 Bofors howitzer payoff scandal - one of the major corruption scandals in India in which then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and many others were accused of receiving kickbacks from the Swedish gun manufacturer.
New Delhi, April 25 (IANS) The Congress Wednesday said former Swedish police officer Sten Lindstrom's revelations on the Bofors payoff scandal has given a clean chit to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
New Delhi, April 25 (IANS) Former Swedish police chief Sten Lindstrom has spoken out on the Bofors artillery guns payoff scandal, which broke out in 1987. Here, in a nutshell, is what he told the website thehoot.org on the Bofors gun deal that brought down the Rajiv Gandhi government in 1989:
New Delhi, April 25 (IANS) The Bofors ghost returned to haunt the Congress Wednesday with former Swedish police chief Sten Lindstrom giving a clean chit to the late Rajiv Gandhi in the payoff scandal but also saying that he just "watched the massive cover-up" and the guilty, Italian Ottavio Quattrochchi, got away.
New Delhi, April 25 (IANS) Political parties who had been misleading the nation on the issue of the Bofors gun deal should apologise, the Congress said Wednesday after former Swedish police chief Sten Lindstrom gave a clean chit to the late Rajiv Gandhi in the bribery sandal
Mumbai, April 25 (IANS) With former Swedish police chief Sten Lindstrom giving him a clean chit in the Bofors gun payoff scandal, Amitabh Bachchan Wednesday said the accusations had led to years of "anguish of petulant blame".
New Delhi, April 25 (IANS) Government is mulling increasing the allocation for constructing toilets under the total sanitation programme, from present Rs.3,500 to Rs.9,900 per toilet, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said Wednesday.
New Delhi, Apr 25 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain has said that Congress- led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coalition Government has no intention of discussing the separate state row of Telangana in Parliament.
New Delhi, Apr 24 (ANI): Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday termed reports that four senior UPA ministers have written to Congress President Sonia Gandhi offering to step down from their posts to be media imagination, and said all leaders are doing the party work whether in government or outside it.
New Delhi, Apr 24 (ANI): Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office (PMO) V. Narayanasamy on Tuesday downplayed the visit by several senior leaders at Congress President Sonia Gandhi's 10, Janpath residence in the wake of reports over four UPA ministers offering to resign from their posts, and contended that it was a routine meeting.
New Delhi, April 24 (IANS) Speculation of a rejig in the Congress and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government increased Tuesday following reports that four ministers had offered to quit to work for the party. Two ministers later denied they had written to Congress president Sonia Gandhi offering to quit.
New Delhi, April 24 (IANS) Amid speculation of a rejig in both the party and the United Progressive Alliance government in order to gear up for the 2014 political battle, five Congress ministers have reportedly offered to quit to strengthen the party.
New Delhi, Apr 24 (ANI): Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday hit out at the UPA Government over reports that four senior Cabinet ministers have written to Congress President Sonia Gandhi offering to step down from their posts, and said the main problem that the country is facing at the moment is the lack of good governance.
New Delhi, Apr 24 (ANI): Union Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi on Tuesday rubbished media reports that he along with several other senior UPA ministers has written to Congress President Sonia Gandhi willing to be relieved of their portfolios.
New Delhi, April 24 (ANI): Several senior ministers of the Manmohan Singh-led UPA-II Cabinet have reportedly written to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, saying that they would like to be relieved of their portfolios and would like to work for the party.
New Delhi, April 24 (IANS) In an unprecedented move, the Congress Tuesday moved to get eight of its MPs suspended from the Lok Sabha for repeatedly disrupting the house over separate statehood to Telangana as the second half of parliament's budget session got off to a stormy start.
New Delhi, April 24 (IANS) In an unprecedented move, the Lok Sabha Tuesday suspended eight Congress MPs from the Telangana region after the party itself moved a motion against them for causing repeated disruptions in the house over the issue of separate statehood to the region. The suspension is for four days.
New Delhi, April 24 (IANS) It was back to adjournments as the Lok Sabha met after a three-week break Tuesday with members from Telangana raising the issue of statehood to the region and Left parties demanding a discussion on spiralling prices.
A recent study by Indian origin researcher has revealed that the extracts of neem tree that are found in abundance in the tropical and subtropical areas can help to prohibit the multiplication of virus.
New Delhi, April 23 (IANS) A day before parliament reconvenes for the budget session, Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi quit Monday as party spokesperson and as head of the parliamentary panel on law and justice in the wake of a controversial CD allegedly featuring him.
New Delhi, April 23 (IANS) Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi Monday resigned as chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on law and justice and as party spokesperson in the wake of a CD controversy surrounding him, saying that he had done so to prevent "even the slightest possible parliamentary disruption".
Washington, Apr 23 (ANI): An Indian origin researcher has hinted that extracts from neem tree, profuse in tropical and subtropical areas, may thwart the virus from multiplying.
London, April 22 (ANI): President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari is best known for other things, and not for anything that links him with Islam or teachings of Islam. He is not a great admirer of saints or their shrines, as he idolises things that make his life in this world more charming and worth living. However, rumours are that he always takes help from Peers and fortune tellers before formulating his political strategies; and some even claim that he is often surrounded by them in Awan e Sadar and in Bilawal House.
Bangalore, April 22 (IANS) The Congress is going all out to woo a powerful caste group in Karnataka that is generally perceived to be a strong supporter of the rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) even as the latter dithers in setting its house in order.
New Delhi, April 22 (IANS) He has acted in more than 50 films and has done more than 2,500 theatre shows, but veteran actor Raghubir Yadav says singing is his first love and will always remain above acting for him.
Wellington, April 22 (ANI): Responding to the request of Colombian government, Spirit Airlines has issued an apology and pulled a "More Bang For Your Buck" ad spoofing the Secret Service prostitution scandal, according to NBC Miami.
New Delhi, April 21 (IANS) The Congress Saturday rubbished opposition parties' allegation of policy paralysis in the party-led United Progressive Alliance and said the launch of nuclear-capable missile Agni-V showed that the government was not diffident about taking decisions.
New Delhi, April 21 (IANS) Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan Saturday met Congress president Sonia Gandhi to apprise her of the political situation in the state in the face of criticism of his government over its "slow" decision-making and the CAG report on land deals.
Elections in India for even the panchayats and civic bodies are seen as political barometers. Although they are supposed to reflect local concerns, no party can afford to ignore their outcome, not least because they are all fought on political lines.
New Delhi, April 20 (IANS) With less than three months before President Pratibha Patil demits office, a host of possible successors have now surfaced. But a poor Congress show in recent state elections may ensure regional parties hold the key to who will be India's 13th president.
New Delhi, April 20 IANS) With less than three months to go before President Pratibha Patil's term ends, a slew of possible successors are doing the rounds. But with the ruling Congress doing poorly in recent state elections, regional parties may hold the key to selecting the nation's 13th president.
New Delhi, Apr 20 (ANI): The statement of Chief Economic Advisor Kaushik Basu in Washington that major economic reforms are unlikely before 2014 polls are attracting flak from the opposition and even the government is expressing reservation in endorsing his statement.
New Delhi, Apr 20 (ANI): The statement of Chief Economic Advisor Kaushik Basu in Washington that major economic reforms are unlikely before 2014 polls are attracting flak from the opposition and even the government is expressing reservation in endorsing his statement.
Geneva, April 20 (IANS) The FIFA Referees Committee has confirmed the appointment of 84 officials from 36 countries to officiate at the 2012 London Olympic football tournaments.
Geneva, April 19 (Xinhua-ANI): The FIFA Referees Committee has confirmed Thursday the appointment of 84 officials from 36 countries to officiate at the 2012 London Olympic football tournaments.
Itanagar, Apr 19 (ANI): Rajya Sabha member Mukut Mithi was today chosen as the President of Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC).
New Delhi, April 19 (IANS) The loss in the capital's civic polls may not cause too much worry to the Congress at the centre but it has certainly dented the impeccable record of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit who helped the party romp home in Delhi elections thrice in a row.
New Delhi, April 18 (IANS) Claiming that "two power centres" of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) were "not on the same page" on issues of governance, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arun Jaitley Wednesday said government can build an environment of economic consensus with the opposition provided there were no political hostilites.
Thrissur (Kerala), April 17 (IANS) A 70-year-old retired school teacher has been waiting patiently for the outcome as his rare collection of Mahatma Gandhi memorabilia went under the hammer in London Tuesday. He intends to use the proceeds to set up an antique museum.
New Delhi, April 17 (IANS) Indian Army's chief-designate and present Eastern Army Commander Lt. Gen. Bikram Singh and vice chief Lt. Gen. Shri Krishna Singh were among senior armed forces officers conferred medals for distinguished service of the most exceptional order by President Pratibha Patil here Tuesday.
