The memoir details Sonia Gandhi's direct observations of major global figures, including former US president Bill Clinton and former French president Nicolas Sarkozy. During Clinton's 2000 state visit, she observed that he prioritized lecturing on Kashmir rather than listening to his Indian counterparts. Gandhi also critiques Sarkozy's demeanour toward former prime minister Manmohan Singh, describing his tone on Indian responsibilities as arrogant. Additionally, she reflects on her historical ties to the British royal family, noting the personal struggles she detected during Princess Diana's 1992 trip to India.
Key points
The memoir provides critical personal perspectives on Bill Clinton's conversational habit…: The memoir provides critical personal perspectives on Bill Clinton's conversational habits and diplomatic conduct during his 2000 trip to India.
Sonia Gandhi disapproved of Nicolas Sarkozy's arrogant demeanor when addressing the more…: Sonia Gandhi disapproved of Nicolas Sarkozy's arrogant demeanor when addressing the more experienced prime minister Manmohan Singh.
The accounts trace decades of personal interactions between the Nehru-Gandhi family and h…: The accounts trace decades of personal interactions between the Nehru-Gandhi family and high-profile international figures, including the British royals.
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Sonia recounts moments with world leaders in her memoir
NEW DELHI: Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi recalls in her memoir how then-US president Bill Clinton, during his 2000 India visit, would occasionally be seen "surreptitiously sizing up the more striking women" at a reception hosted in his honour. The Monica Lewinsky scandal may have faded from the headlines by then, but, as Sonia writes, "old habits die hard".The anecdote is among several candid recollections of Sonia's interactions with global leaders and prominent personalities, including former French president Nicolas Sarkozy and the late Princess Diana, in her newly released memoir, Belonging: A Journey Of Love.Recalling Clinton's 2000 visit, Sonia writes about meeting the then US president at the Sheraton hotel, where he was staying with his daughter Chelsea and his delegation. She had called on him along with then-foreign minister."Friendly, informal, and exuding confidence, he appeared more keen to give us his own views and predictions about Kashmir- 'a nuclear flashpoint', in his words, 'one of the most dangerous places on earth'--than to pay attention to our point of view," she…
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