Sonia’s Amethi speech
In 1995, Sonia visited Amethi, which was Rajiv Gandhi’s Lok Sabha constituency, amid intense speculation about her political plans. Priyanka accompanied Sonia and is learnt to have advised her to question the protracted investigation into Rajiv’s assassination. “You can understand my anguish,” Sonia told the crowd in Amethi. “My husband has been dead for four years and three months, but the inquiry into his assassination is so slow.” This speech put immense pressure on prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, who was already having a tough time in office.
Arun Nehru neutralised
Arun Nehru was close to Rajiv, but he joined Congress rebel V.P. Singh to form the Jan Morcha in 1987. In the 1999 general elections, he contested from Rae Bareli on a BJP ticket. He was said to have begun his campaign on a firm footing. However, the tide turned when Priyanka went to Rae Bareli to campaign against him. “Don’t you know this man stabbed my father in the back?” she asked the voters. “I am surprised you are even entertaining him here.” And that was that for Nehru.
Meeting with Nalini
“Why did you do it?” Priyanka asked S. Nalini Sriharan and broke down. Sriharan, who was convicted for her role in Rajiv's assassination, has described in her book her meeting with Priyanka in Vellore Central Prison in 2008. She wrote that Priyanka looked straight at her for two minutes before asking the question and breaking down. Priyanka's quest for closure over her father's death and the fact that she forgave Sriharan sent out a message that fit in perfectly with the idea that the Gandhis did not practice politics of revenge.
