India: Rahul Gandhi sparks controversy after 'flying kiss' in parliament

Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi courted controversy on Wednesday after he allegedly blew a “flying kiss” in parliament.

The Congress leader allegedly made the gesture during the debate on the ongoing no-confidence motion against the BJP government, according to reports in the Indian media.

The allegations

On Wednesday, right after Gandhi concluded his speech on the motion in parliament, Union Minister Smriti Irani alleged that he blew a “flying kiss” before leaving the lower house.

Without naming Gandhi, Irani said: “The one who was given the chance to speak before me displayed indecency before leaving. It is only a misogynistic man who can give a flying kiss to a parliament which seats female members. Such undignified conduct has never before seen in the parliament of the country.”

Speaking to media outside the parliament, Irani denounced the alleged gesture and asked if the lawmaker should be “brought to task”.

“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 the course of a session stands witness to a man's misogyny, my question is, should he be brought to task?” Irani said, according to ANI.

The uproar

Irani’s allegations caused an uproar, prompting a group of female members of the parliament (MP) to file a complaint against Gandhi with Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla.

One of the complainants, Union Minister and BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje, said: “This is the first time we have seen such behaviour from an MP in the House. He made a gesture of a flying kiss at women MPs in the House...It is unacceptable. We have complained to the speaker to take action against him," she said.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi stated that Gandhi made an “affectionate gesture”.

“I don't understand that when he was speaking, all the ministers were standing up. Ministers were creating obstructions. He made an affectionate gesture, what problem do you have with it? You are habitual of so much hatred that you fail to understand any gesture of love, of affection,” Chaturvedi reportedly said. Chaturvedi’s party is an ally of the Congress in the western Indian state of Maharashtra.

What Congress has said

Congress Member of Parliament Karti Chidambaram said the controversy over the “flying kiss” was a way to divert from the issues raised by the opposition in parliament, reported ANI.

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