No harm in hugging but winking later not appropriate: LS Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Rahul Gandhi's 'viral' wink

This is perhaps for the first time that an opposition leader has hugged the prime minister in the house, especially during a no-confidence motion. Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur was seen standing up and taking objection to Gandhi's hug.

New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi may have impressed his party, the Opposition and many others with his blazing speech in Lok Sabha today but Speaker Sumitra Mahajan expressed disappointment over the Congress President 'breaking the decorum of the House'. Mahajan told Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Parliament, that she was not opposed to Parliament members hugging each other but the manner in which Gandhi returned to his seat and winked was not appropriate. “I don't mind members hugging but one should respect the dignity of the PM's post,” she said. This is perhaps for the first time that an opposition leader has hugged the prime minister in the house, especially during a no-confidence motion. Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur was seen standing up and taking objection to  Gandhi's hug.

Rahul Gandhi should have maintained decorum of the House. I am not saying one should not hug but after going back to his seat & winking is not appropriate. One should respect the dignity of the PM's post: LS Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to Cong's Mallikarjun Kharge #NoConfidenceMotion pic.twitter.com/OQAct5O3qg

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) July 20, 2018

He is known for his hugs, but this was one hug Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not expecting. Gandhi hug took everyone by surprise. Modi too looked nonplussed but later called him and gave a him a warm handshake and murmured something in his ear. Speaker Mahajan also also then gently reminded Gandhi that this was the country's legislature and not a place for such gestures. Gandhi’s winking picture went viral with Twitter users drawing a parallel between the Congress president and Malayalam actor Priya Prakash Varrier who became an internet sensation with her wink from a film song, "Manikya Malaraya Poovi". Speaking to reporters,   Priya said "it was a sweet gesture, I am happy adopted my signature gesture."