New Delhi: Today, December 9, marks the 72nd birthday of UPA chairperson and former AICC chief, Sonia Gandhi.
Born Sonia Maino near Italy’s Vicenza, she is the wife of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and mother of AICC president Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. She held the Congress president post for two decades till her son Rahul succeeded her in 2017.
Political leaders from across the political spectrum, took to Twitter to wish the senior Congress leader on her special day. Members of the Congress party in various states have also planned several celebrations to honour their former chief. A large get-together has also been arranged later in the day.
Various units of the Congress party have planned to celebrate their leader’s birthday in different ways. For example, the Congress party’s Uttarakhand unit is observing Sonia’s birthday as ‘Communal Harmony Day’.
Uttarakhand’s party unit vice- president Suryakant Dhasmana told The Pioneer on Saturday, that the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Pritam Singh has decided to celebrate Sonia’s birthday “in an appropriate manner in view of the BJP’s desperate bid to polarise the people on communal lines.” He also said that the PCC president has instructed all the district party chiefs to organise seminars on the occasion.
Among the many political leaders who wished Sonia on her birthday was Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who tweeted: “Best wishes to Smt. Sonia Gandhi Ji on her birthday. I pray for her long and healthy life. (sic)”
Congress media in-charge Randeep Surjewala tweeted a picture of himself with Sonia Gandhi saying, “My best wishes to Smt. Sonia Gandhi ji on her birthday. Your grace, dedication, dignity and indomitable spirit continue to inspire the country and many like me. I pray for your long and healthy life. (sic)”
My best wishes to Smt. Sonia Gandhi ji on her birthday. Your grace, dedication, dignity and indomitable spirit continue to inspire the country and many like me.
I pray for your long and healthy life. #HappyBirthdaySoniaGandhi pic.twitter.com/TfDWTQzdFa
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) December 9, 2018
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh also wished the Congress leader tweeting: “My best wishes to you Smt Sonia Gandhi Ji on your birthday. May you have a healthy and prosperous life and may you continue to guide us all with your leadership for many more years to come. #HappyBirthdaySoniaGandhi(sic)”
Former CM Siddaramaiah tweeted: “Birthday greetings to Smt. Sonia Gandhi. She is always a strength to the party & guided all of us at difficult times. Her sacrifice for the welfare of our country & party shall always be remembered. Wishing her good health & happiness. #HappyBirthdaySoniaGandhi (sic)”
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted: “My best wishes on your birthday Sonia Gandhi Ji. I pray for your long life and happiness in all you do. (sic)”. Reportedly, Banerjee is likely to visit Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi today on the occasion.
DMK president MK Stalin is also reportedly scheduled to visit Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi today to wish her and invite her to inaugurate a statue of the recently deceased, former Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi at their headquarters. Sonia has reportedly already accepted the invite in a letter.
