WIKILEAKS-SONIA 2 LST

Gandhi, the cable says, revealed that her parents
objected to her marriage to Rajiv Gandhi and she "resented
their position" and went ahead and married him anyway.
She also noted that she felt that her gender has
never been an issue in her political life and that Indira
Gandhi also made the same observation.
As the discussion moved on to population control,
the cable says: "Mrs Gandhi pointed out that 'population
control' is a political taboo in India after Indira Gandhi was
voted out of office over this issue.
"Although she insisted allegations of forced vasectomies
and other abuses were 'highly exaggerated' and 'politically
motivated,' the historical memory has forced the UPA to focus
on raising awareness and providing basic health services and
means that progress on reducing the birth rate will be
'slow.'"
Gandhi, the cable says, then provided personal
insights into her life, saying that she travels constantly all
over India, often to remote areas to visit the common people,
as "it is only by going out and interacting with people that
we are in a better position to understand their problems and
determine what they want."
Whle discussing relations between India and US, the
cable reports: "Mrs Gandhi jokingly pointed out that the
'Indian Left is anti-American,' but then agreed that its
stance was aimed at 'American policy' rather than the American
people... Mrs Gandhi also pointed out that many Indian Muslims
"resent certain policies of the US." PTI