PM Modi vs Rahul Gandhi: Hug, wink and slip of tongue
Call it scripted drama or impromptu rhetoric, Rahul Gandhi started his speech by lampooning PM Modi over his jumlas and unkept promises but ended up hugging him after his Lok Sabha speech on no-confidence motion.
New Delhi: Amidst a string of sharp comments and scathing counter-attacks during the no-confidence motion debate in the Lok Sabha today, what amused parliamentarians was the story of a hug, a wink, a slip of tongue and peals of laughter—all between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
Call it scripted drama or impromptu rhetoric, Rahul Gandhi started his speech by lampooning PM Modi over his “jumlas” and “unkept promises” but ended up hugging him. From the beginning till the very end he ensured that everyone laughed, either at him or with him. And it applied to everyone—from his own partymen to BJP leaders.
Rahul Gandhi’s slip of tongue
Rahul Gandhi, who later himself admitted that the BJP makes fun of him by calling him “Pappu”, made PM Modi and others from the ruling alliance burst into laughter when he pronounced the Hindi word “bahar” (outside) as “bar”.
“Pradhan Mantri ji bar mai jate hain...nahi...bahar jaate hai matlab abroad jate hai...” This led to guffaws in the House as TV cameras focused on PM Modi’s laughter.
PM Modi couldn’t stop laughing
Rahul Gandhi gave another chance to PM Modi to laugh his heart out during his speech. During the debate, Rahul said he can see a touch of nervousness in PM Modi. “He is looking away from me. I can understand that. He cannot look into my eyes, I can see that because the Prime Minister has not been truthful,” he said. Hearing this, PM Modi guffawed to mock him.
Rahul Gandhi hugs PM Modi
It was a role reversal of sorts. Rahul Gandhi, who has been criticising the Prime Minister for his “hugoplamacy”, was the one who went ahead and surprised Modi with a warm hug, which critics said looked “awkward”. Completely unaware of what was in the offing, PM Modi didn’t stand up to receive the hug, but he recovered quickly and called him to pat him on the back and shake hands. It remains a secret as to what Modi told Rahul Gandhi during the short meeting.
Rahul Gandhi’s wink says it all
After the now-famous hug Rahul Gandhi went back to his seat and was seen winking while talking to someone, apparently about the “hugoplamacy”. The hug could, well, be interpreted as a taunt to Modi, known for his affectionate hugs to leaders across the world.
Catch all the Politics News and Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.
MoreLess
First Published:20 Jul 2018, 05:52 PM IST
- Top Gainers
- Top Losers
- 52 Week High