Smriti Irani condemns Rahul Gandhi's 'flying kiss' in Parliament, terms it 'misogynistic behaviour'
New Delhi, August 9: Smriti Irani, a Member of Parliament from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, has accused Rahul Gandhi of displaying "misbehaviour" during a session of the Lok Sabha. The incident in question involved a "flying kiss" gesture made by Rahul Gandhi as he left the parliamentary floor.
Expressing her objection, Smriti Irani termed Rahul Gandhi's conduct as "indecent" and accused him of acting in a "misogynistic" manner. She questioned the appropriateness of giving a flying kiss to a parliamentary session where female members also participate. The incident occurred after Rahul Gandhi concluded his remarks on the ongoing no-confidence motion against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in the Lower House of Parliament.
#WATCH | Union Minister Smriti Irani on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi
"Never before has the misogynistic behaviour of a man been so visible in Parliament as what was done by Rahul Gandhi today. When the House of the People, where laws are made to protect the dignity of women, during… pic.twitter.com/eOsMl3I5zy — ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2023
Outside of Parliament, Smriti Irani spoke to reporters, stating that such misogynistic behavior had never been so evident in the Parliament before. She questioned whether action should be taken against a Member of Parliament for such conduct, particularly in a legislative body that is supposed to uphold the dignity of women.
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The incident was met with condemnation from other members of the BJP as well. Ravi Shankar Prasad, a BJP MP, expressed dismay over Rahul Gandhi's gesture, particularly given the presence of numerous women MPs in the House. Union Minister and BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje revealed that a group of women MPs had filed a complaint with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla regarding Rahul Gandhi's behavior, which they deemed unparliamentary.
Shobha Karandlaje emphasized that such behavior was unprecedented in the history of the Indian Parliament. She urged the Speaker to review CCTV footage of the incident and take appropriate action. The BJP MP condemned the gesture, describing it as inappropriate and indecent.
Rahul Gandhi, who was the initial speaker as the no-confidence debate resumed, used the opportunity to criticize the ruling BJP's handling of the Manipur situation. Accusing the BJP of having "murdered India in Manipur" and labeling them as "traitors, not patriots," Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the government's policies.
Responding to Rahul Gandhi's comments, Smriti Irani dismissed his claims, asserting that he was not representative of India. She highlighted the BJP's commitment to meritocracy over dynastic politics, emphasizing that India believes in the power of merit rather than lineage. The BJP leader invoked historical context, referencing the "Quit India" movement against British colonial rule, and urged a similar stance against corruption and dynastic politics.
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- With inputs from agencies
