Mon Dec 02 01:23:50 UTC 2024: ## Former Congress Leader Heptulla Recounts Snub by Sonia Gandhi in New Memoir

**New Delhi** – In her recently released autobiography, “In Pursuit of Democracy: Beyond Party Lines,” former Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Najma Heptulla details a significant incident highlighting what she perceives as a decline in the Congress party’s internal communication under Sonia Gandhi’s leadership.

Heptulla, who served as President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in 1999, describes how she attempted to inform Gandhi of her historic achievement. Despite calling from Berlin, she was kept on hold for an hour by Gandhi’s staff, ultimately never reaching the Congress president. This contrasts sharply with her experience informing Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee of the same news; he responded immediately and enthusiastically.

Heptulla expresses deep disappointment at Gandhi’s lack of response, characterizing the incident as a “moment of rejection” that foreshadowed the party’s subsequent decline. She attributes this decline to a breakdown in communication and access to the leadership, alleging that inexperienced staff acted as gatekeepers, blocking access to Gandhi and hindering feedback from party members. This, she claims, differed drastically from the open communication style of Indira Gandhi.

The memoir also highlights the Vajpayee government’s support following Heptulla’s election, including an upgrade to her ministerial rank and budgetary allocation for international travel. Further underscoring the contrast, Heptulla notes that Gandhi declined an invitation to the Millennium Conference of Presiding Officers in New York the following year.

Heptulla, who joined the BJP in 2004 after reported disagreements with Gandhi, served as Union Minister for Minority Affairs under Narendra Modi. Her autobiography provides a critical assessment of Sonia Gandhi’s leadership style and its impact on the Congress party.

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