Even as the BJP, on Wednesday, targetted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over a flying kiss that he blew to the treasury benches, calling it a "misogynist" and "inappropriate gesture", Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi came out in support of the Congress leader, saying he merely 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," the Rajya Sabha MP asked.
She alleged that the BJP is used to so much hatred that its leaders "fail to understand any gesture of love, of affection."
"You disqualified Rahul Gandhi as an MP and ousted him from his residence. He came back after winning his cases. Still, he is not talking to you out of hatred. If you have a problem, it is your problem and nobody else's."
In a complaint, signed by more than 20 women parliamentarians, it was alleged that the Congress member made an "inappropriate gesture" towards Union Minister Smriti Irani when was speaking in the House during the debate on the no-confidence motion against the government.
Irani spoke after Gandhi, who alleged that the government's politics had "murdered Bharat Mata" in Manipur and termed members of the ruling BJP "traitors".
"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 of Parliament. Such undignified conduct was never before seen in the Parliament of the country," the Union minister had claimed.