NEW DELHI — A heated exchange unfolded in India’s Parliament on March 10, 2026, after Union Minister Kiren Rijiju mocked Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi by recalling his widely discussed 2018 “hug and wink” moment in the Lok Sabha.
The remark triggered a sharp response from Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, highlighting ongoing tensions between the government and the opposition during the current parliamentary session.
Rijiju Recalls the 2018 “Hug and Wink” Incident
During discussions in the Lok Sabha, Kiren Rijiju took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi’s conduct in Parliament, referencing the moment in 2018 when Gandhi walked across the aisle to hug Prime Minister Narendra Modi and later winked at a fellow lawmaker.
Rijiju used the phrase “Aankh maarta hai” (he winks) while recalling the episode, suggesting that such behavior reflected poorly on the seriousness expected from the Leader of the Opposition.
The minister argued that parliamentary debates should maintain decorum and described what he called Gandhi’s style of politics as “immature” and “unbecoming” of someone holding a major constitutional role in the House.
Priyanka Gandhi Defends Rahul Gandhi
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra quickly pushed back against Rijiju’s remarks, defending her brother and accusing the government of focusing on theatrics rather than substantive issues affecting the country.
Rejecting claims that opposition members had abused or disrupted proceedings, she said:
“No one abused anyone. There were a couple of MPs who were particularly upset, so they expressed their displeasure. They’re saying that I was encouraging it, which is completely false… I was sitting quietly.”
She also dismissed the importance of privilege motions reportedly being considered against Rahul Gandhi. “Doesn’t matter to Rahul Ji,” she said when asked about the matter.
Clarification on Rahul Gandhi’s Controversial Remarks
Priyanka Gandhi also addressed recent controversy surrounding comments made by Rahul Gandhi in the House. According to her, Gandhi was quoting from a book written by a former Army Chief, and his remarks were taken out of context. She insisted that the opposition leader was not attempting to defame the armed forces, but rather referencing published material during his speech.
Ongoing Political Tensions in Parliament
The latest exchange comes amid a series of confrontations between the government and opposition during the ongoing parliamentary sessions.
In February 2026, Kiren Rijiju criticized Rahul Gandhi during debates on the Union Budget, accusing him of making “wild” and “unsubstantiated” allegations that the government was “selling out” the country. Rijiju has also sharply responded to Rahul Gandhi’s previous remarks about the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), calling them “political mudslinging” and defending the organization as patriotic.
A Familiar Pattern of Political Sparring
Political analysts note that such verbal sparring has become a recurring feature of parliamentary debates involving the ruling government and the opposition led by Rahul Gandhi.
With the budget session continuing, further confrontations between ministers and opposition leaders are expected as key national and economic issues are debated in the coming weeks.
