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May I ask those proponents of the theory, that merit alone counts, as to why have Sonia at all? We have a lot of highly educated professionals who would do? The next question would be to those Indians abroad - have you ever been treated as equals in your country of residence leave alone the question of high office?
The last question would be to BBC itself - how would you like to have an Indian married to Prince William? Would like her to be Queen one day? Why this hypocrisy when it comes to dealing with Indians? Do you still think this to be your colony?
Sasi Kumar, India

As Sonia is now an Indian citizen nobody can bar her from contesting and thereby holding Premiership. But is she able?
Abdul Jalee, Saudi Arabia

Patriotism comes by birth in a country and not by accepting a nationality. We have a great regard for Sonia. As any Indian would say, she is our "daughter-in-law" and we always would admire her connection with the Gandhi family. However, holding a high office in the country is out of the question.
Ramachandran, Bahrain

The past decade has proved that other politicians are not fit for the job of PM. Maybe Sonia may do better than the other lot tried so far.
Sam Gnaniah, UK

Sonia did not want Indian citizenship even after 15 years of marriage. She opted for it only when it became evident that her husband can become the prime minister of India. This goes to show her love, affection and belonging to India!! How can anyone support this lady for PM's post?
NRI, Indian

It is indeed sad that the most populous country cannot find a leader who they can call their own!! What a sad state Indian politics has come to. The only qualification one needs to have to rise to a high post is be financially strong and be corrupt. I am sure Indian leaders of the past will be shedding tears and the old leaders of the British Raj grinning in their graves!!
N. Mahendranath, USA

Sonia Gandhi should not be barred from PM's post. I agree that it is racist to do so. Personally, I think the greatest opposition is coming from the Indian elite especially the Indians residing in other countries!
S Prasad, USA

I don't think it is right to bar ALL foreign-born persons from high office. I think it should depend on how long the foreigner in question has been staying in the adopted country. I am talking about a situation where one practically grows up in one's adopted country. In Sonia Gandhi's case, she grew up an Italian before she got married. It is not possible for someone to switch loyalty so late in life.
Tanzil Malek, USA

It depends. In her case her background is one from India. Her parents were Indians, and she as spent a lot of time in that country. I think should be given a chance.
Mr Campbell, UK

Individuals should be evaluated according to their qualifications as individuals. A person shouldn't be disqualified simply according to his national origin.
Reals Noamoshe Sakyadavid , America

It is shame for Indian Congress that they still need Gandhi family support to thrive. After 50 years of independence Congress still seeks votes on Individual Leader hereditary rather than performance. A better democracy can be achieved by shifting the focus from one person to a party.
Ckv Sadishkumar, USA

What is more pertinent is Sonia Gandhi's ability to administer India effectively or not. Let us not forget that the Congress Party was itself established back in 1885 by an Englishman. Sonia Gandhi, whatever her limitations, has demonstrated her commitment to India by continuing to live here.
Leslie Manners, India

I voted against foreigners holding high office. A country's head should be one who knows its problems, has lived through them, and holds no reservation whatever to uphold national interests. Sonia can be very knowledgeable about the problems that ail India. However, solving them requires alacrity, backed by a huge political mandate, while ensuring that most players are happy. That is a tough task, and a foreigner will lack the ability to read the pulse of such a diverse, and multi-ethnic nation to manage them all. Sonia failed when she toppled this government. Today, the critical problem India faces is stability. If she is true to her intent, she wouldn't have pulled the government down in the first place. It would have done greater good to the nation, if she played the role of a constructive opposition in the parliament, and be astute enough to strengthen her base first. I have no allegiance to the BJP, all I want is a some stability so that things begin to happen, rather than to spend millions in the electoral process only to build a house of cards, consisting of kings, queens, and jokers.
Devesh Satyavolu, India

Sonia Gandhi was not born in India. But since she's citizen of that country she has every right to participate in election. She might be better than Vajpayee.
Kameen Singh, USA

The question really is: Shouldn't Indians accept naturalised citizens for the highest office? The question itself is hypocritical. And, the situation lacks substance. Can you name any country of some significance where the answer to a similar question would be "yes, we should"? US constitutionally bans it. Further, Sonia Gandhi's qualifications for the office are none to zero. She will probably win at least one MP seat. That itself should be a testimony for the lack of Indians' bias against naturalised citizens. Please do not put an attitude label on a country based on an outcome that is dependent on a zillion variables.
Srini, USA

Surely if a candidate can prove a thorough understanding of political, social and business needs of the nation then their geographical place of birth or education is irrelevant.
S Hawker, UK

I find it quite amusing when Indian origin people abroad make a song and a dance about Congress not being able to field an Indian candidate. May be Inder Verma will decide to go back and join active politics! Also why should anybody be barred by Law. Let the people decide by the ballot in every such case. Incidentally, wasn't the Congress party itself formed by some foreigners! I don't care about her origin, Sonia is now family.
Ashok Patel, U.K.

Frankly, I don't know much about Sonia Gandhi's qualification and capability but I feel strongly about the reason why India rejected her as a Prime Minister. I can accept it if the reason is that she does not have the experience and capacity to fill up that role effectively. However, to reject somebody just because of his or her origin at heritage is a pure act of chauvinism in my opinion. I hope that people start judging their leaders based on their capabilities rather their heritage.
Pauline, Singapore

I am from Japan, I am shocked to such sort of debate. It is surprised to see that 100 years old Congress party does not have any capable and experienced person in their party to lead. It clearly shows that still in India people are not capable of leading their own country. Still they depend on others to run their country, their economy, and their defence. What a tragedy
Gawashiku, Japan

Sonia Gandhi is Indian now. She got citizenship of India and she is a member of one of the number one and prestigious families - this family sacrificed a lot so there is no doubt if she should become PM.
Kayyum Khan, Bahrain

In the Internet age, does it really matter? Wake up people, Bill Gates is the unofficial leader of the world since he is controlling what you and I write on the net.
That said, the reality is that the Congress party is so bankrupt that it has to look to an untried widow with a historic last name to rescue it from oblivion. Don't the names Dr. Manmohan Singh, Pranab Mukherjee, Sharad Pawar, Sangma mean anything? Congress thoroughly deserves to be consigned to the dustbin of history since it so unceremoniously dumped possibly the most successful Prime Minister of India - Mr. Narasimha Rao who made possible the breathtaking changes of the last decade.
Tunku Varadarajan, USA

The question is wrongly framed since Sonia Gandhi in an Indian citizen. She is foreign born and her passion for India cannot be as strong as it would be for her motherland. The question of her holding highest office should not arise since she has no experience on political or social front. Had it been Mother Theresa in her place things might have been different. Just because Congress could not bind itself under any other personality they chose Sonia Gandhi as their leader. Her only qualification is that she is married to Rajiv Gandhi. The deeds of Indira Gandhi or Rajiv Gandhi cannot be considered as her contribution to the country. Therefore it is her demerits which disqualifies her to become the prime minister, and her foreign birth has some impact on it.
Kishore Singhal, Australia

It is a pity that a politically and ideologically consortium of fools is yet again aspiring to get the power by installing a dumb and in experienced foreigner , the only qualification (for them) being the name tag that the person carries. The dynastic system that is prevalent in Congress has already been rejected by the people of the country and now they must realise this.
Ashish, India

It is impossible not to be biased to the country of your birth. I am here in the USA for 28 years and a citizen but I love India. Although the USA is my second best country, India remains in my heart, despite India is poor and in shamble condition. I think it is the universal truth that a foreign born citizen should never be allowed to hold top position in any department of the government.
Vijay K. Bhimani, USA

Shut up. Who are you to poke your nose in our affairs. You exploited our country for 200 years. You have no right to ask this question. Better go and look out for eleven English cricketers who can play sensible cricket.
Arjun, India

At this time in India's history, we need a head of government who is both a scholar and a statesman. Indira Gandhi had these qualities. Sonia Gandhi does not have them, nor can they be quickly acquired on the job. People should know what the stakes are and that the job of prime minister cannot go on the basis of sympathy, dynasty or rhetoric alone. India is a democracy. It is no more a Raj - by Nehru, for Nehru or of Nehru.
E, USA

It is really silly to say that Sonia Gandhi cannot become Prime Minister because of her Italian origin. It high time Indians grow out of their Xenophobic, Casteist and Racist mentality.
Krishnamohan, England

Of course, no foreigner should be allowed to hold any high elected political office in India, or for that matter anywhere else. But Sonia Gandhi is NOT a foreigner. She is a duly naturalised citizen of India and cannot/should not be disallowed to run for parliament. No one in India runs for Prime Minister's post, as such. If she is elected to the parliament and if her party/coalition attains a majority in the parliament and if she is elected to be the parliamentary leader of the majority then the President of India has no choice but to invite her to form the government.
Vijay K. Jayaswal, USA

It is a fact that a person has a strong bond with his/her motherland and no foreigner, however caring he/she may be can rule the hearts of people of this nation.
Arun Aggarwal, India

USA which has a fairly high percentage of immigrants bars citizens born outside the country from becoming the president. The only qualification Mrs. Sonia Gandhi has is her name. We as Indians have to get away from the concept of royalty rule and accept democratic rule.
Shirish Gadgeel, USA

It is impossible to expect total loyalty and trust from a person who has not been the part of our society. A person who takes fifteen years to change his citizenship and changes his mind when she is sure of benefiting from it. It is the bankruptcy of the Congress party which has led to this discussion. I am sure their decision of projecting a foreigner as prime ministerial candidate will lead to their party to extinction.
D. Srivastava, UK

Firstly, what about other countries like the US and Italy whose law only permits naturalised citizens to run for the highest office? Secondly, I think any candidate in India running for the highest office should judged on merit. I don't think Sonia Gandhi has any. Her trump card seems to be the fact that she is a part of the Nehru family. It is very difficult for anyone to say where her real loyalties lie. I acknowledge that she has lived in India ever since she got married but that was because her marriage and that in itself does NOT qualify her in anyway to be able to run for the highest office in India.
Vidisha VAIDYA, Australia

It is not a question of Sonia Gandhi's political career for she does not have one. It is a question of the political ambition of a foreign born Indian national, who has till date contributed nothing to the public. She has not worked for the people. In fact not a few years ago it was widely publicised that she abhors politics! The reasons for this drastic turn around in her attitude do not appear to be based as a service to the people of her adopted nation but her own five star life style survival.
Jyotsna Pandey, India

The British came to India in the guise of traders and enslaved us for centuries. Sonia an Italian, who stood in the way of Rajiv Gandhi from entering politics is fighting tooth and nail, to become India's head. What is at stake here? Our national security for which many have laid their lives, our pride and self-respect. I question whether democracy is suitable for a country like India with its massive illiterate population. I sincerely hope that we do not become the laughing stock of the civilised world.
Dr. Venkatesh, Indian from the USA

How can anybody permit an outsider to be the head of his house giving him control of security, finance and outlook.
Wasudeo Mhaskar, India

I think it's a joke that there's so much Indian opposition to Sonia Gandhi when the amount of immigrants from the Indian sub-continent who are now "British citizens" is huge and continuing to grow. If there was an Indian who wanted to hold high office in this country and received such opposition we would all be accused of being racist, prejudiced - you name it.
Fiona, UK

The sacrifices of our forefathers to gain independence from foreigners should not be mocked by installing a foreigner as our Prime Minister. It is impossible to believe that Sonia will have the same love and affection for our country as she has for Italy. It is a shame that Congress has stooped down to such an extent to gain power. No self-respecting Indian will be able to accept Sonia as his leader.
Raghunandan, India

A question of divided loyalties should settle the issue of barring foreign born 'citizens' from holding high offices. Besides, Sonia Gandhi doesn't have a day's experience of public service and public administration, and is completely relying on the ignorance, gullibility and illiteracy of the majority of the Indian population to bring her to power, in much the same fashion as her husband did in 1984.
S Goswami, India

Foreigners will never have the same emotional attachment to the country as a natural born. Even a dog is not liked by other dogs if he wanders into the others' street
Arun Prakash, USA

I agree with all those who advocate the selection of a person on the basis of merit. However, I wonder if they could explain to me the merit in selecting someone purely on the basis of the political dynasty they have married into rather than any abilities, or otherwise, they may possess in order to govern a country. I would like to suggest that race/nationality is purely a secondary issue in this instance. If we were talking about an Italian from any other family, I doubt that we would even be having this debate.
Maghin Tamilarasan, UK

What Congress means to say is that from nearly a population of a million, they couldn't find even one eligible candidate for the highest post of office in the whole country that they had to ask a foreign national for help?
Raina Malik, Bahrain

What Sonia did for the country? If she wants to work for the country let her first involve in social activities like Mother Theresa instead of asking for a Prime minister post. Actually She don't want to work for the poor. She needs power & by way of getting that she will sell the country to the western world. If an Indian born married Clinton's daughter would he will be allowed to rule US? It's a sin for the country if she has been selected as Prime minister of India.
Sabapathy, India

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Is it right to bar foreigners from high office?

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