Congress Hails Rahul’s ‘Unscripted’ Hug, BJP Calls it ‘Drama’

BJP said it was a “comedy show”. Congress said it took “the BJP’s breath away”

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi hugged Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha on 20 July.

(Photo: PTI/LSTV Screengrab)

Video Editor: Mohd Irshad Alam

After tearing into the BJP-led government in his speech during the no-confidence motion on 20 July, Congress president Rahul Gandhi took everyone by surprise by walking across the benches and hugging Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The move garnered mixed reaction from across the political spectrum. Congress MPs in Lok Sabha called the move unscripted and one that took “BJP’s breath away”.

“Rahul Gandhi doesn’t work according to a script. He works according to his heart and emotion. What he felt, he did in the spur of the moment,” Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia told ANI outside the Parliament.

Shashi Tharoor called Rahul’s Lok Sabha performance impactful and game changing.

This has been a game changing speech. It has been highly impactful. It’s very striking that in the beginning, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs said that you can’t have too much time because this is like a limited overs match. Well, like a T20 match, Rahul Gandhi hit the bowl right out of the park. He hit sixer after sixer.

Shashi Tharoor, Congress MP, Lok Sabha

Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh said that the hug is a good tradition for democracy.

I think that this is a good tradition for democracy. We don’t have any personal rivalry with PM Modi. India will not be created on the basis of hatred. Your opinions can differ from that of your rivals but that should lead to politics of division and hatred.

Sanjay Singh, AAP MP, Rajya Sabha

Former Rajya Sabha MP and CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said that Rahul Gandhi has tried to explain the real character of India to PM Modi.

He [Rahul Gandhi] has conveyed his feelings. What is there to react about it? He tried to explain what the real character of India is. Now, it’s up to the PM whether he takes his advice into consideration. 

Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary, CPI(M)

Ruling Party Waves It Off

Meanwhile, on the other side of the aisle, the BJP and its allies dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s speech. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar said that Rahul’s attempt to hug Modi was "childish”.

Rahul Gandhi’s attempt to hug PM Modi was a childish effort. He has grown up but he hasn’t become mature yet.

Ananth Kumar, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs

Actor-turned-politician Kirron Kher went a step further and said that Rahul Gandhi should seek a job in Bollywood.

Why did he hug PM Modi? I think his next step will be Bollywood. I have switched from Bollywood to politics but it seems we will have send Rahul to Bollywood. If he refines his acting talent a little more, it would be fun to watch him.

Kirron Kher, BJP MP, Lok Sabha

BJP’s ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) echoed the saffron party’s view. SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that the speech was “a great comedy show”.

I am still laughing after what transpired. Even you have seen Rahul Gandhi for last 15 years. Have you ever seen this kind of dramatics? Was this the earthquake he talked about? He calls Punjabis drug addicts so I asked him what he took today.

Harsimrat Kaur Badal, SAD MP, Lok Sabha