New Delhi: Veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu today (May 18, 2004) said Congress president Sonia Gandhi had been dissuaded from becoming Prime Minister by her children, who fear that she might be killed.

"Her children say that they have lost their father and do not want to lose their mother. We cannot give any assurance. This is a violent country," the former West Bengal Chief Minister said.

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"It is a family affair now and is for Congress to decide," he said.