12 Questions Sonia Gandhi Would Have Been Asked In A Serious Interview

Smita Prakash, Editor, ANI, is facing abuse and intimidation from the Congress president Rahul Gandhi and journalists belonging to the larger Congress ecosystem after she interviewed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 1 January.

In a 90-minute interview, the ANI editor covered most and many important topics. The result of which was a comprehensive interview of the Prime Minister and an opportunity for viewers to get to know his mind on many contentious issues.

However, at the time of writing, Prakash was still being subject to ridicule for supposedly being pliant.

Let’s jump to the other side at this point. Sonia Gandhi is the leader of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). The UPA was in power for ten years between 2004-14. Sonia Gandhi was the leader of the Congress for seven years before that. When have we seen any question that can be described as ‘tough’ being posed to her in any interview?

Come to think of it. The person whose word was final in all matters of policy for ten years has not sat for an interview where she was questioned on those policies and on other controversial topics related to her party and family.

On that note, the day Sonia Gandhi does decide to sit down for a serious interview, here are 12 questions we hope she is asked.

1. Did you not realise that the 93rd Amendment and the Right to Education (RTE) would lead to a blatantly communal education ecosystem and would jeopardise the existence of thousands of schools run by the majority community?

2. You are accused of being a super-prime minister and belittling the office of the PM between 2004-14. It is said that you held power without accountability and in hindsight your “voice of conscience” comment of May 2004 rings hollow. How would you respond to that?

3. When was the first time you got to know of the 2G scam and what were your first instructions to the government then?

4. It is alleged that files from the PMO used to come to 10 Jan Path for your approval. Don’t you think this undermines the Constitution of India?

5. In the context of the 1984 pogrom, what do you think of Rajiv Gandhi's "big tree falls. . ." comment?

6. How did you know Ottavio Quattrocchi and how did he get access to then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi?

7. In hindsight, do you think that Rajiv Gandhi could have handled the Shah Bano case and the Ram Janmabhoomi case differently?

8. A recent biography of his alleges that you did not allow the body of former prime minister Narasimha Rao to even enter the Congress headquarters after his demise. Why not clear the air once and for all on that?

9. Sharad Pawar left the Congress citing your foreign origin issue. How did you manage to convince him to be a Congress ally?

10. What is your opinion on the speculations around your son-in-law, Robert Vadra’s properties?

11. What was the need to transfer the ownership of National Herald to Young Indian Ltd, a non-profit owned by your son and yourself?

12. You are the president of the Congress party, and led the UPA during its two terms in power. Don’t you think that the people of India deserve to know basic information about your health, like they did about Dr Manmohan Singh and Atal Bihari Vajpayee?