'Sonia Gandhi immediately rushed to his residence': Sitaram Kesri's grandson on his removal as Congress President

Deoghar (Jharkhand), Nov 10 (IANS) Former Congress President late Sitaram Kesri's grandson, Rakesh Kesri, on Tuesday, refuted allegations that senior party leader Sonia Gandhi had a role in his removal as the party chief in 1998.

Instead, he said, Sonia Gandhi "immediately rushed" to Kesri's residence and described him as a "great leader".

This was stated by Sonia Gandhi in her memoir "Belonging: A Journey of Love", where she recalled that in 1998, after being elected party President at the CWC meeting, she straight went to Kesri's residence and touched his feet to seek blessings, leaving the latter "surprised".

Recounting the emotional meeting, she wrote that Kesri expressed surprise at her unexpected presence, but with moist eyes, placed his hand on her head, and blessed her.

Speaking to IANS, Rakesh Kesri also said that Sonia Gandhi made "sacrifices" for the country as well as for the party.

"I was only about 25 or 26 years old at that time; I did not know much as I am not a political person, but her dedication to the party and her sacrifice are things we understand from history. It is recorded that she made sacrifices for the party and for the country," he said.

Asked if Sonia Gandhi was opposed by others from becoming the Prime Minister at that time, he rebutted the claim, calling it her own "sacrifice".

"There was no one to oppose her. It was her own sacrifice. What difference would opposition have made when all the MPs were with her? She herself probably did not want the position," he said.

Further, Rakesh Kesri maintained that his grandfather shared a very good relationship with the Gandhi family and refuted reports that Sonia Gandhi had any role in Sitaram Kesri's removal as Congress chief.

"We were young then...Kesri ji would always say that it was 'Congress-I', meaning Indira Congress. He never called it his own Congress. The Gandhi family had a very good relationship with him," he said.

"The incident that happened occurred because of certain people with a particular ideology and mindset," he added.

According to Rakesh Kesri, when Sonia Gandhi learnt about Sitaram Kesri's removal as party President, "she was among the first to go to his residence on Purana Qila Road. She spoke to him and described him as a great leader."

Asked whether the Gandhi family maintained contact with the Kesri family after the former Congress chief's demise in 2000, he said: "Yes, they remain in touch with us, and we continue to meet. Last year, on October 24, we even observed Sitaram Kesari's 25th death anniversary."

"We wrote a letter, and it was immediately accepted (by Congress leadership). We received a phone call in response, and then (Sitaram Kesri's) 25th death anniversary was observed by the party," he said, referring to it as the Congress' mark of respect for Kesri.

"As soon as we sent the letter, it was accepted, and the entire event was organised by the party at its own expense. What more could we ask for?" Rakesh Kesri said.

Meanwhile, recounting the emotional meeting in her book, Sonia Gandhi wrote that Sitaram Kesri expressed surprise at her unexpected presence, but with moist eyes, placed his hand on her head and blessed her.