New Delhi, April 11 – It was a brief, cordial exchange, unlike those witnessed when the House is in session. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, met in the Parliament complex on Saturday.
A viral online video showed the leaders sharing a candid moment at an event to pay tribute to the social reformer, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, on his 200th birth anniversary. This marked one of the few direct encounters between the two leaders.
According to those present, the interaction lasted approximately five minutes and appeared amicable, despite the escalating political tensions that have characterised the ongoing Budget Session. One such witness described the exchange as a "genuine gesture" where they greeted each other respectfully and had a brief conversation.
Another source added that the Prime Minister asked the Congress leader about the health of his mother, Sonia Gandhi, who had been hospitalised recently due to complaints of vomiting and nausea. It was learned that Rahul Gandhi responded that her health was improving, to which the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction and extended his best wishes.
Incidentally, Sonia Gandhi was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on March 24 and was discharged seven days later after recovering from a systemic infection.
The meeting took place at a politically sensitive time. The Budget Session has been marked by frequent disruptions, with the Lok Sabha proceedings being adjourned multiple times due to heated exchanges between the ruling and Opposition benches.
Just last month, tensions peaked when Prime Minister Modi skipped a crucial Lok Sabha session after Rahul Gandhi allegedly ignored multiple rulings by the Speaker.
Rahul has been constantly in the news during the session due to his aggressive oratory and various contentious statements and gestures. On one occasion, he called former Congress leader, now Minister of State in the government, Ravneet Singh Bittu, a "traitor".
He has also been seen drinking tea and sitting on the Makar Dwar staircase of the Parliament building, which has drawn criticism from the treasury benches. Rahul has frequently been spearheading demonstrations at the Makar Dwar.
The Prime Minister also criticised Gandhi for calling Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu a "traitor", calling it an insult to the Sikh community.
The atmosphere in Parliament has been particularly charged recently. On February 4, the Lok Sabha descended into chaos amid sharp political clashes over government policies.
His official meetings have also been contentious, such as in December last year, when he submitted written objections to all proposed appointments at the Information Commission, citing a lack of representation from Dalit, Adivasi, OBC, and minority communities, and demanded caste-wise applicant data.
The meeting was held at the Prime Minister’s residence, where Home Minister Amit Shah was also present, and extended far beyond the expected duration, covering eight Information Commissioner posts plus one Vigilance Commissioner position.
Major policy disagreements have also erupted, particularly over the SIR exercise, vote allocation claims in Haryana and Bihar, and the handling of the Manipur violence.
On Saturday, among those present in the video during the short exchange were Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Ministers J. P. Nadda and Arjun Ram Meghwal, who also paid tributes to the celebrated social reformer.
