No mention of Telangana movement in Sonia’s memoir, says former MP Vinod Kumar

Hyderabad: Former MP B Vinod Kumar expressed surprise over the absence of any reference to Telangana or its statehood movement in Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s latest memoir, “Belonging: A Journey of Love”, launched on November 10.

He said Sonia Gandhi, as the then Congress president and UPA chairperson, played a pivotal role in the political decisions leading to the formation of Telangana by recognising the strength of the prolonged people’s movement and the aspirations of its people.

The statehood struggle involved years of protests and strikes and claimed the lives of more than 1,200 students and activists, whose sacrifices remain an integral part of Telangana’s history, he said.

Vinod Kumar said it was surprising that the memoir did not mention even the word “Telangana”. He said the reasons for the omission were best known to Sonia Gandhi, adding that the formation of Telangana remains a defining chapter in the country’s political history and an unforgettable milestone for its people.