Explaining why she was keen on Pratibha Patil becoming the President of India, UPA Chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi said Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi inspired her to increase women’s participation in all spheres of life.

“I am proud of being a member of the Gandhi family. Whatever I am doing in politics now was learnt from Indira Gandhi and Rajiv,” she said here on Monday during a felicitation programme organised by the citizens of her Parliamentary constituency to express “gratitude” towards Sonia for playing a pivotal role in the election of a woman for the top constitutional position.

“You know well that Rajiv Gandhi was little interested in politics. But when he joined it for the country, he dreamt of taking India to the 21st century knowing well that it would be possible only when women were directly involved in politics and other walks of life. His dream has been fulfilled by election of a woman as President of India,” she said.

On Monday, Sonia started her three-day tour of Rae Bareli and Amethi, her and her son Rahul Gandhi’s parliamentary constituencies. Earlier, while felicitating the freedom fighters of Rae Bareli at a function in Shankarpur on the occasion of 150th anniversary of the first war of independence, the UPA Chairperson said she was struggling to ensure that the people of her constituency got every social and economic amenities.