NEW DELHI: A day after
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's blistering attack over her Italian connections, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has hit back saying "India is my home, I will breathe my last here."
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi you can continue attacking my integrity but you cannot challenge my commitment and love to the country. I cannot expect Prime Minister Narendra Modi to understand my feelings, but I am sure the people of the country can understand and I believe you will," Sonia said launching her election campaign in Kerala.
Responding to PM Modi's references to her Italian connections, Sonia Gandhi said, "Yes, I was born in Italy. I came to India in 1968 as the daughter in law of Indira Gandhi."
Addressing a mammoth rally, Sonia said she never wished to say this in public but was forced to say since she has been insulted by the BJP and the RSS for her origin in Italy.
"All of my 48 years the RSS, BJP and other parties have taunted me to shame for my birth in Italy. I was born to honest parents and I am not ashamed of it. Yes I have relatives in Italy," Sonia said.
"But it is here in this country in India that the blood of my loved ones is mingled. My beloved’s blood were shed here. It is here that I will breathe my last. It is here my ashes will be merged," she said.
Sonia accused the Modi government of trying to decimate the secular and democratic foundations of the country and neglecting the interests of the marginalized sections in the society.
She alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi found enormous time for internationals visits and discussions, but not for the farmers and the poor people of the country.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had lauched a direct attack on Sonia Gandhi over the VVIP chopper scam.
PM Modi demanded that the names of those who took kickbacks in the tainted chopper deal be made public and the culprits punished.
Modi also said the Congress president's name has been dragged into the controversial deal not by him or anybody in his government but by a court in Italy.