New Delhi: If it was Rahul Gandhi’s hug-and-wink gesture through the debate on the no-confidence movement that made headlines in 2018, an alleged ‘flying kiss’ by the Congress chief through the debate on the no-trust movement in Parliament Wednesday triggered a political row.
A minimum of 21 girls MPs of the BJP have written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, demanding stringent motion towards the newly-reinstated Wayanad MP for “indecent behaviour and inappropriate gesture” in direction of Union Minister Smriti Irani and different BJP MPs.
Irani, who spoke after Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha, mentioned, “I object to one thing. The one who acquired a possibility to talk earlier than me displayed indecency whereas leaving. It is just a misogynistic man who may give a flying kiss to a Parliament which seats feminine members of Parliament. Such undignified conduct was by no means earlier than seen within the Parliament of the nation. It reveals the khaandhaan he comes from, and what his household and celebration really feel about girls.”
Congress chief Srinivas BV posted a video of Rahul on social media platform X, saying that the MP was in actual fact going through the Speaker and never Smriti Irani, who was seated diagonally reverse him.
स्मृति ईरानी का झूठ बेनकाब.. 👇 pic.twitter.com/BakX5A1Vhj
— Srinivas BV (@srinivasiyc) August 9, 2023
The Congress known as Irani’s remarks a tactic to “divert consideration” from the Manipur violence problem.
“The one problem that issues to the nation and the one problem that resonates in Parliament is the problem of Manipur, a state of India that has been burning for the final 98 days now, the place girls and youngsters have suffered essentially the most,” mentioned Supriya Shrinate, chairperson of the Congress’s social media and digital platforms in its communications division.
She added: “The state of Manipur is being uncovered not simply by the Opposition however by BJP’s personal MLAs who say that is state-sponsored violence. It’s being uncovered by the Governor too. Regardless of all this, we see Biren Singh proceed as CM. They’re speaking about restoration of peace and regulation and order in Manipur, two days again, six extra individuals have been discovered useless.”
Shrinate additional mentioned that the BJP authorities “has fully failed the nation”, including: “Every other problem that’s being spoken about is a matter to divert consideration away from Manipur. This (flying kiss problem) is a tactic to divert consideration. We stand with the individuals of Manipur and nothing will dilute or divert consideration away from that.”
Whereas taking part within the debate on the no-confidence movement in Lok Sabha, Rahul hit out on the Modi-led Union authorities and accused it of “not utilizing the Military” to revive peace within the northeastern state.
Congress sources mentioned that the MP, whereas leaving, was generally gesturing in direction of the treasury benches and it was by no means directed in direction of anybody specifically.
“Whereas leaving the Home, Rahul Gandhi gestured in direction of the treasury benches. The flying kiss was aimed on the treasury bench who’re full of hatred and animosity as a gesture of affection. That is conserving in step with his thought means of spreading love. It wasn’t aimed toward any minister, girls MPs or Smriti Irani specifically. He’s identified to have hugged the PM previously in the identical spirit,” mentioned a celebration chief, not desirous to be named.
Additionally Learn: ‘Come what could,’ Rahul Gandhi tweets after Supreme Courtroom stays conviction in ‘Modi surname’ case
‘Shameful behaviour’
In the meantime, plenty of BJP leaders took to Twitter and posted a video of Rahul’s ‘flying kiss’.
BJP’s IT cell chief Amit Malviya posted a six-second video of the Congress chief, captioned: ‘Sansad me lafangai karte Rahul Gandhi…sharmnaak! (Rahul Gandhi’s hooliganism in Lok Sabha…shameful)”.
Completely shameful conduct by Rahul Gandhi, who blew a ‘flying kiss’ on his approach out of the Parliament, gesturing in direction of a woman MP…
Completely sickening.
This isn’t the primary time Rahul Gandhi has displayed such disgusting behaviour. Earlier he was seen winking and throwing… pic.twitter.com/8YhhZaWmob
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) August 9, 2023
“That is the primary time we have now seen such behaviour from an MP within the Home. He made a gesture of a flying kiss at girls MPs within the Home…It’s unacceptable. We have now complained to the Speaker to take motion towards him,” Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje advised reporters.
Of their grievance towards Rahul, lodged with Speaker Om Birla, girls MPs said: “The mentioned member has behaved in an indecent method and making inappropriate gesture in direction of Smriti Zubin Irani, Union Minister and Member of this Home whereas she was addressing the Home. We demand stringent motion towards such behaviour by the member, which has not solely insulted the dignity of ladies members within the Home, it has additionally introduced disrepute and lowered the dignity of this august Home (sic).”
Former minister and senior BJP chief Ravi Shankar Prasad additionally condemned the ‘flying kiss’ incident. “His (Rahul’s) behaviour was shameful. Is Parliament a spot to offer out flying kisses, the place girls legislators are additionally seated? He has no manners,” he advised reporters.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
Additionally Learn: Agree there’s violence in Manipur. We’re unhappy, however politics over it’s shameful: Amit Shah
