The ‘parliamentary’ hug that Congress president Rahul Gandhi gave Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it to the front pages of the newspapers in India. The photo showed the 48-year-old Rahul bending down to embrace a perplexed PM Modi while the latter remained firmly seated on his chair. It became one of the most historic images in the history of Indian politics.
Everything was, as Congress leaders put it, “unscripted”. Gandhi had simply walked across the floor of the Lok Sabha to the PM after completing his feisty speech against the NDA government led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the day of no-confidence motion on 20 July. He then planted the hug which was watched live by lakhs in the country on TV.
While the internet exploded with memes and gifs of all varieties and tastes, not everyone was amused. Subramanian Swamy is one of them.
The BJP MP in Rajya Sabha, who has been particularly critical of the Gandhi family, had his own take on what transpired between Modi and Rahul Gandhi.
In a tweet posted a day after the ‘historic’ hug, Swamy compared the hug with the embraces the Russians and North Koreans did with their enemies.
“Namo should not have allowed Buddhu to hug him,” he wrote referring to the hug between the PM and the Congress president.
“Russians and North Koreans use the embrace technique to stick a poised needle. I think Namo should immediately go for a medical check to see if he has any microscopic puncture like Sunanda had on her hand,” suggested Swamy pointing at the Sunanda Pushkar death case.
Namo should not have allowed Buddhu to hug him. Russians and North Koreans use the embrace technique to stick a poised needle. I think Namo should immediately go for a medical check to see if he has any microscopic puncture like Sunanda had on her hand
— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) July 21, 2018
The 78-year-old Swamy had filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored SIT probe into the death of the wife of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. His plea was dismissed by the apex court on 13 July.
Meanwhile, Twitter couldn’t control its laughter as Swamy’s tweet went viral.
Sir he didn’t allowed , buddhu forcefully hugged him. Even PM was in a shock as to how to respond.
This can be part of larger conspiracy
— Abhishek Sharma 🇮🇳 (@abhisharma_IND) July 21, 2018
Sir, is it true that after Buddhu hugged , Modiji`s wallet was missing ?
— Jayesh (@jayeshdewana12) July 21, 2018
It is also a security hazard. @narendramodi must immediately take medical checkup.
— Non convertible (@CAPMohan) July 21, 2018
Absolutely. Else, it could be a dress rehearsal of planned future hugs with Russian poison needle.
Trying to see chinks in armour. Trying to feel if Modi’s attire includes protection n it’s extremities.
Budhu may be working for Break-India forces as an interested party/partner— Col A K Tiwari🇮🇳🚩 (@colkt) July 21, 2018
Donald Trump Ko na karle Hug Rahul gandhi Jis tarah say Jabrun modi ko kiya tha. Trump toh uthakar Do Chaar laga dega ismay😂https://t.co/M4GLweCjfO
— Lol Salam (@Lolsalam_) July 21, 2018
Was Modi also wearing such ‘needles’ when he forcibly and so unabashedly hugged Trump, Putin and others ?
— Pradyut Bordoloi (new) (@pradyutbordoloi) July 21, 2018
— Jagpreet Singh (@iJagpreet) July 21, 2018
Pappu may have dropped a bug too. While intelligence is a far cry for him & Congress, cleverness he does have in abundance.
— Kanchan Dwivedi (@kanchandwivedi3) July 21, 2018
I guess it was a joke but this kind of joke is bit too much from such a veteran Politician.
— Anirudha Dastidar (@anirudhadastidr) July 21, 2018
It is not clear whether Swamy was cracking a joke or was he as serious as a stone. But the hug itself was not without drama.
As the PM saw Gandhi approaching, he extended his hand towards Gandhi while remaining seated. The 48-year-old Congress chief was seen gesturing the PM to stand up. When that didn’t happen, Gandhi was seen quickly giving a tight hug to a visibly flustered PM.
Read More: Rahul Gandhi hugs Modi, says call me Pappu but I won’t hate you
As Gandhi tried to walk away, PM Modi signaled him to come back. The two leaders then shook hands and a smiling PM was then seen muttering something to the young Congress president.
It was apparently Gandhi’s political score against the BJP.
Expectedly, the saffron party reacted with a scorn. When it was his turn to speak, the Prime Minister criticised the young Gandhi for being too eager to usurp the PM’s chair.
“What is the hurry?” Modi said, while referring to Gandhi’s hand gestures.
Read More: Not a naamdar, can’t see eye to eye with you: Modi taunts Rahul
At a rally in Shahjahanpur on Saturday, Modi again slammed Gandhi for the “unwanted hug”.
“We asked the reasons for their no-confidence motion. When they failed to give the answers, they ended up giving an unwanted hug,” he said.