Mani Shankar Aiyar confirms Natwar Singh's claim, says Rahul Gandhi behind Sonia Gandhi's refusal of PM post

NEW DELHI: Days after former Congress leader Natwar Singh's claim, Gandhi family loyalist Mani Shankar Aiyar has confirmed that it was Rahul Gandhi who prevented his mother Sonia from becoming Prime Minister in 2004.

In an interview to a private TV channel, Aiyar echoed the comments by Singh who had earlier said that Rahul prevented his mother from accepting the top job for the fear that she would be killed.

But in the same breath, Aiyar said, "There must be other reasons also which Singh is not aware of." "Has Natwar said there was no inner conscience?" Aiyar asked, saying the tradition of searching inner conscience is more than 100 years old in Congress. The Congress leader, known for his proximity to the Gandhi family, said what Singh said and has written in his memoirs "is only part of the truth and not the full truth". Aiyar also didn't find anything "odd" about Rahul Gandhi's fears about his mother's security.

Soon after declining the PM's chair in 2004, Sonia had said she had listened to her "inner voice".

Aiyar's comments though stood in contrast to the position taken by the Congress spokesperson who trashed Singh's claims on the reasons behind Sonia's renunciation. When it was pointed out to Aiyar, he said, "I am hardly likely to be asked to defend Congress. I am speaking in my individual capacity."

Defending Sonia Gandhi's leadership, Aiyar said there is nothing wrong in her taking interest in Congress affairs after rajiv Gandhi's assassination. "She was concerned about the legacy and future of Congress," he said. Aiyar also dismissed Singh's allegations that Sonia is undemocratic and said he has attended enough meetings where he has been heard making a different point.

Aiyar also made light of Singh's revelation that the then Vice President Shankar Dayal Sharma was her first choice for Congress President and PM after Rajiv's assassination. He said even if journalists and the outside world are unaware that Sonia had wanted Shankar Dayal Sharma as her first choice for Congress President, this was known within the Congress circles.