Pranab Mukherjee Shares Insights on Rahul Gandhi’s Office

Pranab Mukherjee’s Daughter Reveals His Criticism of Rahul Gandhi’s Leadership in New Book

In a new book titled “Pranab My Father,” Sharmishtha Mukherjee, the daughter of Congress veteran Pranab Mukherjee, shares her father’s critical comments on Rahul Gandhi’s ability to lead the Congress party. The book also sheds light on Pranab Mukherjee’s relationship with the Gandhi family.

According to the book, Pranab Mukherjee questioned Rahul Gandhi’s leadership skills and expressed disappointment at his “frequent disappearing acts.” One incident mentioned in the book occurred during Pranab’s morning walk in the Mughal Gardens, when Rahul unexpectedly came to meet him. Pranab usually disliked interruptions during his morning routine, but he decided to meet Rahul. It turned out that Rahul’s office had mistakenly informed him that the meeting was scheduled for the morning, when it was actually planned for later in the evening. Upon learning about the incident, Pranab sarcastically commented, “If Rahul’s office can’t differentiate between ‘a.m’ and ‘p.m’, how do they hope to run the PMO one day?”

The book also includes pages from Pranab Mukherjee’s diary, which offer insights into his thoughts on contemporary Indian politics. Pranab Mukherjee, who served as the President of India until his death in 2020, had worked closely with three generations of the Gandhi family and held prominent ministries in the government throughout his illustrious career.

The incident mentioned in the book left Pranab Mukherjee dismayed and raised questions about Rahul Gandhi. The book highlights an occasion when Rahul was conspicuously absent during the flag-raising ceremony at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) on the party’s 130th Foundation Day in December 2014, only six months after the Congress party’s defeat in the general elections. Sharmishtha Mukherjee writes that her father noted in his diary, “Rahul was not present at the AICC function. I don’t know the reason, but many such incidents happened. As he got everything so easily, he doesn’t value it. Can he revive the Congress? Can he inspire people? I don’t know.”

However, while acknowledging her father’s criticism, Sharmishtha Mukherjee also praises Rahul Gandhi’s dedication, tenacity, and outreach during the Bharat Jodo Yatra. She believes that this 145-day Yatra, covering over 4,000 km, has positioned Rahul as a highly credible political figure countering bigotry.

Pranab Mukherjee served as the Finance and Defence Minister in the Congress-led UPA government during the initial years of Rahul Gandhi’s political career as an MP from Amethi. The book provides an intimate glimpse into the complex dynamics between Pranab Mukherjee and Rahul Gandhi, shedding light on their differing perspectives on leadership and the future of the Congress party.