Rahul Gandhi sweeps Modi in embrace, says no aversion to BJP

Congress President delivers fiery speech against BJP's policies

President of the Indian National Congress, Rahul Gandhi on Friday embraced Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a hug, adding that he harbours no hate for the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP).

The two were present at the lower house of the Indian parliament, Lok Sabha to debate a no-confidence motion against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. "You may call me pappu, but I don't hate you," said Gandhi looking the Indian premier straight in the eye, after which he walked across the assembly hall and threw his arms around the political rival.



Gandhi is a frequent critic of the Modi-led government for their policies of demonitisation, imposition of increased General Sales Tax (GST), the Rafael deal and the lack of action to prosecute the incidents of lynching across country. However, he stressed there was no personal vendetta against Modi and no aversion towards the party.

During the parliamentary session, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) party staged a walk out, while the Shiv Sena skipped the meeting, which means that both parties will abstain from the no-trust vote.



The PM is expected to reply to the debate later today [July 20], while the speaker has scheduled the no-trust vote at 6 pm. This no-confidence motion will be the 27th in Indian Parliamentary history and is the first to be admitted in the course of 15 years. The last was in 2003 when the Congress party moved a no-confidence motion against then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

 

This article originally appeared in The Indian Express.