Twitterverse exploded as Congress President Rahul Gandhi hugged and winked at Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a raging debate on No-Confidence Motion between the ruling National Democratic Alliance and the Opposition.
Veteran journalist Barkha Dutt tweeted that the trend of Nudge and wink is of the past, and now it is all about hug and wink.
She wrote, "Instead of Nudge Nudge Wink Wink it's now 'Hug-Hug Wink-Wink' !! #RahulKiGandhigiri #TheHug #RahulhugsModi"
Instead of Nudge Nudge Wink Wink it's now 'Hug-Hug Wink-Wink' !! #RahulKiGandhigiri #TheHug #RahulhugsModi
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) July 20, 2018
A twitter user said that the BJP is creating unnecessary furore over a hug.
She wrote, "BJP's supporters are showing way more outrage over a man hugging another than they have ever showed over a man lynching another. #RahulhugsModi"
BJP's supporters are showing way more outrage over a man hugging another than they have ever showed over a man lynching another.#RahulhugsModi
— Sunanda Pandey (@Sunanda_26) July 20, 2018
Another user turned this situation into a joke as he tweeted, "Future Prime-Minister gives a warm love filled hug to the outgoing Prime-Minister. #HugNotHate #NoConfidenceMotion #RahulGandhi #RahulHugsModi"
Future Prime-Minister gives a warm love filled hug to the outgoing Prime-Minister. #HugNotHate #NoConfidenceMotion #RahulGandhi #RahulHugsModi pic.twitter.com/ou0lofmrzt
— Saral Patel (@SaralPatel_) July 20, 2018
Interestingly, another user praised Rahul Gandhi for teaching Prime Minister Modi a lesson about 'hugplomacy'.
He wrote, "Today Modiji may have felt the tremors of hugplomacy. Rahul Gandhi has taught him a lesson which he will never forget. #RahulHugsModi" Krishna Murari Singh
Today Modiji may have felt the tremors of hugplomacy. Rahul Gandhi has taught him a lesson which he will never forget. #RahulHugsModi
— Krishna Murari Singh (@kmsingh1963) July 20, 2018
Congress President Rahul Gandhi drew comparison with Malayali actor Priya Prakash Varrier for his wink after his explosive speech on Friday, with the latter terming it a "sweet gesture".
On a related note, Rahul Gandhi was the center of attention today for the scathing attack he launched on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government during his speech, and his hug for the Prime Minister after.
During his nearly 15 minutes stormy speech, that was interrupted several times by BJP members, Gandhi focused his attack on issues where he felt the NDA government had failed since 2014, including the Goods and Services Tax, the demonetisation move, the Rafale deal, among others.
Following his speech, he walked over to Prime Minister Modi and embraced him. Upon returning to his seat, he was seen smiling with his party members, which was followed by a wink.
However, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan termed his behaviour as being improper, saying, "PM Narendra Modi was on his seat which commands respect. Winking is against the dignity of Parliament. Rahul ji is not my enemy, he is like my son and it is a duty of a mother to correct. Why will I oppose hugging? But after hugging, that wink wasn't proper."
(ANI)