NEW DELHI: Towards the end of half-an-hour long and fiery speech on Friday, the day of no-confidence motion debate, Congress President Rahul Gandhi walked all the way to PM Modi and gave him a hug, a move that no one saw coming and baffled even Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan.
This gesture caught on camera and invoked varied reactions on social media and unexpectedly a very tiny section of Bollywood also reacted and even declare it ‘Hug Day.’ Here’s how Twitter reacted:
What an astonishing performance by @RahulGandhi. It was a game-changing speech, tearing apart the Govt ’s claims & ending with that unscripted hug that has literally taken the BJP’s breath away #BhukampAaGaya
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) July 20, 2018
Journalist Nidhi Razdan expressed shock (just like many of us): OMG Rahul Gandhi hugs the PM, whereas Barkha Dutt tweeted the PM must not have been expecting it.
OMG Rahul Gandhi hugs the PM
— Nidhi Razdan (@Nidhi) July 20, 2018
Today is official,”Hug day.” 🤗🤗
— Rajkummar Rao (@RajkummarRao) July 20, 2018
I suppose – tongue firmly in cheek- that hug by @RahulGandhi of @narendramodi is a sort of political Love Jihad 😎. Certainly an affection ambush the PM didn't expect!! And will go down as the image of the year. https://t.co/NdwccfrDcH
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) July 20, 2018
Today is official,”Hug day.” 🤗🤗
— Rajkummar Rao (@RajkummarRao) July 20, 2018
— Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) July 20, 2018
What's childish about a hug? It was sorta sweet, actually. BJP should accept it with grace & perhaps send some love back, instead of being negative and churlish. Also, it would be more becoming of the govt. to answer each point Rahul made pre-hug. That's what we want to hear. https://t.co/Bl2gM8osPI
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) July 20, 2018
The hug by @RahulGandhi to @narendramodi has to be the moment of the year. It's RARE to witness something like this in the house. Modi didn't see that coming.#NoConfidenceMotion pic.twitter.com/oNFjXUZdSD
— Ishu Saini (@ishusaini_24) July 20, 2018
After todays speech by @RahulGandhi in parlment he goes to hug Mr Prime Minister @narendramodi to hug .this parlment phicture made by history.#NoConfidenceVote
— Dattu patil (@dattu_ap) July 20, 2018
The hug by @RahulGandhi to @narendramodi has to be the moment of the year. It's RARE to witness something like this in the house. Modi didn't see that coming.#NoConfidenceMotion pic.twitter.com/oNFjXUZdSD
— Ishu Saini (@ishusaini_24) July 20, 2018
Oh that wink my friend! Hit them hard where it hurts..Congratulations for unearthing their mines of lies & a fantastic speech @RahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/lMlBFoYGwv
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) July 20, 2018
The Congress president before the end of his speech said, “You all must think that I have a lot of hatred in my heart against the Prime Minister, but actually that is not the case. In fact, Modi Ji, the BJP and the RSS taught me the meaning of being a member of the Congress party. They have taught me the meaning of being Indian. They have taught me the meaning of being a Hindu and a devotee of Lord Shiva. Being an Indian and being a Congressman means no matter what falsehood someone speaks against you, you do not harbour ill-will against them. For this, I thank you,” Gandhi said.