Congress MP Rahul Gandhi presented a red rose and the national flag to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday amidst heightened tensions between the opposition and the BJP in the current session of Parliament, which has witnessed frequent disruptions over several issues, including charges of collusion aimed at discrediting India involving Sonia Gandhi and businessman George Soros.
For the first time in history, the opposition and the BJP clashed over a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Chair Jagdeep Dhankhar, whom the opposition has accused of biased leadership. This motion was moved earlier during the day that saw even more protests and another adjournment of the House.
A video posted by news agency ANI shows Singh approaching the Parliament building, initially refusing a Congress MP who tried to give him the rose and flag. However, Rahul Gandhi then came forward, smiling, and managed to offer the items to the Defence Minister, who accepted them.
It wasn’t a solo gesture, as several Congress colleagues, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with MPs from allied parties like the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and Tamil Nadu’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, assembled outside Parliament, bearing roses and flags for BJP lawmakers.
The opposition tried through this symbolic gesture to appeal to the BJP to allow the House to function and debating issues of vital importance, including the U.S. indictment against Adani Green Energy. Most protesters were carrying placards that read, “Don’t let the country be sold.”
The Adani Group has firmly denied allegations of bribery involving billionaire Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani, and senior executive Vineet Jain. In response to the accusations, Gautam Adani emphasized that the group often faces challenges, asserting, “Every attack makes us stronger.”
This was a floral and patriotic gesture on a day when opposition MPs had flourished bags sporting caricatures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Gautam Adani as a mark of protest for the government’s refusal to debate the issue.
However, the no-confidence motion is likely to fail due to not meeting the constitutional requirement of 14 days’ advance notice under Article 67(B) of the Constitution. Even if taken up for consideration, the opposition will fall short of numbers to motion Dhankhar out of his chair.
The motion was brought up after protests against the Chair allowing BJP MPs to make remarks on Sonia Gandhi’s alleged links with Soros. BJP claims that these associations are a threat to national security and have sought a debate. Congress has strongly denied the charges and demanded that discussions should focus on the Adani issue.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, “The most ridiculous thing was this Soros-Sonia Gandhi links. they were doing this because they did not want to discuss the Adani issue.”
