Rahul seals no-confidence speech with 'jaadu ki jhappi' for PM

He's known for his hugs, but this was one Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not expecting.

IMAGE: PM Modi pats Rahul's back after he left his bench and walked over to the Treasury Benches to hug the PM. Photograph: PTI Photo

After a no-holds barred and scathing criticism of Modi on several issues including Rafale jet deal, Congress president Rahul Gandhi walked across to the prime minister and hugged him, a gesture which took the Lok Sabha members by surprise.

 

WATCH: When Rahul caught everyone by surprise

Modi, who initially looked non-plussed and did not stand up to hug him, recovered quickly and called Gandhi back and patted him on the back.

IMAGE: Initially, when Rahul walked over to Modi's side, the PM seemed non-plussed, but later smiled and shared a kind word with the Congress chief. Photograph: PTI Photo

“This is what it means to be a Hindu,” Gandhi said after coming back to his seat amid a big applause from his party members, including his mother Sonia Gandhi and other leaders present.

Sharply criticised for his reported remarks that “Congress is a Muslim party”, Rahul Gandhi said, “Prime Minister Modi, BJP… have taught me what it means to be a Congress person, the meaning of being a real Indian, and what it means to be a real Hindu. For this, I thank them.”

IMAGE: After his hug, Rahul Gandhi said that the BJP may call him 'Pappu', but he had no hatred towards the BJP or the PM. Photograph: PTI Photo

He also said his opponents may hate him, call him “Pappu” but he has no anger, hatred against the PM and the Bharatiya Janata Party.