Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has shared a video on social media recalling how her love story with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi began in 1965 at a small Greek restaurant called The Varsity in Cambridge, England.

In her debut post on X, Sonia Gandhi spoke about her upcoming memoir, ‘Belonging: A Journey of Love’, which is scheduled to be released on November 10. She also shared personal memories of her life with Rajiv Gandhi, offering a glimpse into the early days of their relationship through recollections and old photographs.

“In a small Greek restaurant in Cambridge, my journey of love began. Rajiv and I created a world filled with love, laughter and memories. On 10th November, I share that world with you,” she said.

Recalling their first meeting at the Greek restaurant in Cambridge in 1965, Sonia spoke warmly about Rajiv Gandhi and the qualities that attracted her to him.

“Of course he was very good-looking,” she said.

She also remembered the difficulties of finding good food in England during those days, explaining that restaurants were relatively few and that she eventually discovered a Greek restaurant frequented by Indian and Italian students.

She recalled how the restaurant became the setting for the beginning of their relationship.

“That is when I met Rajiv; in that very restaurant. When I first met him, I felt almost immediately that he was someone I would really love to be with. And of course, I learned out he felt the same. I remember when I first met him, a common friend introduced us and then we became friends. We used to go to parties with friends,” Sonia recalled.

Reflecting on Rajiv Gandhi’s personality, she said his gentle nature had left a lasting impression on her from the very beginning.

“He was a very gentle-looking person. Of course he was very good-looking, but that gentleness came through. That was something that really touched me and struck me. I’ll never forget when I first met him,” she added.

Sonia Gandhi’s post on X marked her first appearance on the social media platform.

Earlier on Thursday, she also joined Instagram, where she shared a message introducing her forthcoming memoir and expressing gratitude for being able to present its first look to readers.

“Hello everyone, I’m truly grateful to share this moment with you all: the first look of Belonging: A Journey of Love. It is a story of love, duty, loss, and finding a place to belong. I look forward to sharing it with you,” Sonia Gandhi wrote in her first Instagram post while sharing the first look of the book.

In the video shared on Instagram, Sonia Gandhi is seen receiving the first copies of her book and sharing sweets with her daughter and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The two were also seen hugging.

The book is set to launch on November 10, while pre-orders have been opened. The memoir is being published globally by Alfred A. Knopf, with HarperCollins India handling its release in the country.

Spanning 544 pages, the book traces Sonia Gandhi’s journey from her childhood in post-war Italy to her meeting and eventual relationship with Rajiv Gandhi. It also chronicles the personal tragedies that shaped her life, including the assassinations of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, and explores her subsequent role in Indian politics.

Several Left-Wing organisations, student leaders and civil society members on Friday took part in a protest march towards the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters in the national Capital amid heavy security, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Gyanesh Kumar, over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The participants, including members of Left-Wing’s All India Students’ Federation (AISF) and All India Youth Federation (AIYF), gathered near Bangla Sahib Gurdwara at Delhi’s Connaught Place to march to the Election Commission’s headquarters near Patel Chowk.

CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat, CPI leader P Sandosh Kumar and political activist Yogendra Yadav also took part in the protest.

Speaking to reporters, Yadav said: “The protests will continue uninterrupted. If you shut down one Jantar Mantar, hundreds of Jantar Mantars will emerge. You may silence one person, but you cannot silence the people. This movement will continue in its own form because it is about the most basic democratic rights of the people of this country.”

P Sandosh added: “…We will intensify our movement in the coming days, and there will be larger gatherings. We will continue our agitation until the resignation of Mr. Gyanesh Kumar. No one can save him for sure.”

Heavy security deployment was also witnessed outside the ECI headquarters and several protesters were detained by the police.

Earlier in the day, the Delhi Traffic Police had advised commuters to avoid affected routes in view of the protest march.

In a post on ‘X’, the Delhi Traffic Police said: “In connection with the anticipated movement of a large number of people from Bangla Sahib Gurudwara towards Jantar Mantar today, traffic diversions will be in place from 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.”

“Commuters are advised to avoid affected roads, plan their journeys in advance and follow traffic police instructions,” it said.

Further, the Traffic Police appealed to motorists to remain patient, follow rules and cooperate with traffic personnel deployed in the area. “Please follow diversion signs and traffic directions to avoid congestion,” it said.

The protests demanding the resignation of CEC Kumar gained momentum following a media report claiming differences within the poll panel regarding procedures related to the SIR.

Earlier this month, the agitations against the CEC were led by the Opposition INDIA Bloc and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), leading to brief detentions of several leaders.

Meanwhile, the BJP has launched a nationwide campaign titled ‘Save democracy, remove anarchy’ to counter the Opposition’s criticism of the SIR.

A 25-year-old man was killed, and six others were injured when a freight train collided with a pickup vehicle in Madhya Pradesh Anuppur district, officials said on Friday.

The incident happened late Thursday night, police said. The accident occurred near Sanjay Nagar Double Story in the Chachai police station area when the pickup, carrying seven people returning to their village after delivering DJ equipment, was hit by a train heading towards Sangwa siding to collect coal for the Amarkantak Thermal Power Plant.

The deceased, Ravi Barman, a resident of Chakethi village, was trapped inside the vehicle and died on the spot. The impact was so severe that his head was severed from his body. His body was later removed with the help of a JCB machine.

The six injured, including the pickup driver, were taken to the district hospital in Anuppur. They were later assured better treatment in Jabalpur.

The pickup driver said the crossing had neither a railway gate nor a gatekeeper. The injured were identified as Arjun Kol (17), Vikas Singh (22), Shivam Baig (18), Kanhaiya Verma (25), Karan Kol (19) and Rajesh Singh (26). All six are residents of Chakaithi village.

According to police, several occupants jumped out after seeing the approaching locomotive, but Ravi got trapped inside the vehicle and could not escape.

The locomotive pilot reportedly fled the spot, leaving the engine running.

The accident raised questions about safety arrangements along the railway line used for transporting coal.

Following the accident, Ravi’s family demanded compensation and a job for one of his brothers at the power plant.

After a meeting involving district and police officials, villagers and power plant representatives, assurances were given that compensation would be provided as per applicable rules, and a gate would be installed at the crossing.

Anuppur Sub-Divisional Officer of Police Sujit Kumar said the body would be sent for post-mortem examination, and an accidental death case would be registered. “Further action will be taken after the investigation,” he said.