Harsimrat’s drug jibe at Rahul: ‘What did he take today’
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and Union food processing industries minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Friday took potshots at Congress president Rahul Gandhi, asking “what did he have today before coming to Parliament”, while claiming that the opposition leader had accused Punjabis of being “nashedi (drug addicts)”.
After a no-holds-barred and scathing criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on several issues, including Rafale jet deal, Rahul walked across the greencarpeted well of the Lok Sabha to Modi and hugged him.
Harsimrat stood up and took objection to Rahul’s hug saying he cannot do this “pappi-jhappi moment” in the House. “This is Parliament, not Munna Bhai ‘pappi-jhappi’,” she said referring to the popular Bollywood movie ‘Munna Bhai MBBS’ where the hero often gives hugs to people.
Harsimrat was earlier riled by Rahul’s remarks when he pointed at her saying that the leader of BJP ally Akali Dal was smiling when he was criticising the Modi government. Harsimrat stood up to object, but speaker Sumitra Mahajan asked Rahul to continue.
Later, talking to reporters outside Parliament about the event that unfolded in the House, Harsimrat accused Rahul of resorting to “dramebaazi”.
“They call us Punjabis as nashedi (drug addicts). So I also asked him with a smile ‘aaj aap kaunsa kar ke aae hai (what did you take today). He failed to realise my gesture but only saw me smiling,” she said.
Harsimrat also alleged that the Congress was responsible for the killing of thousands of Sikhs during the 1984 riots following the assassination of the then prime minister Indira Gandhi.
Rahul said that opponents may hate him, call him “Pappu” but he has no anger or hatred against the Prime Minister.
‘HUG WIDOWS OF 1984 RIOTS’ VICTIMS TOO’
Speaking in the Lok Sabha during the no-confidence motion, Akali MP from Anandpur Sahib Prem Singh Chandumajra asked Rahul Gandhi to hug widows of 1984 riots victims and farmers who have committed suicide in Punjab owing to debt.