Who gave Priyanka Gandhi the Palestine-watermelon bag? Congress MP's office clarifies

Where did Priyanka Gandhi find the stylish Palestine-themed bag that she brought to the Parliament earlier this week? The Congress MP's office has reportedly revealed that it was a present to the Wayanad MP from a friend. However, the concept was her own, Priyanka Gandhi's office added after the bag became an instant hit on social media.  

Priyanka Gandhi's Palestine-Bangladesh bags: The story so far

In a show of support for the people of Gaza, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Monday carried a bag to Parliament that had "Palestine" emblazoned on it. The handbag also had known emblems of Palestinian identity like a watermelon. The Congress general secretary has been raising her voice against Israel's actions in Gaza and expressing solidarity with Palestinians.

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A day later on Tuesday, the Wayanad MP was seen carrying a cream-coloured handbag to Parliament with "Bangladesh Ke Hindu Aur Isaiyon Ke Saath Khade Ho" (stand with the Hindus and Christians of Bangladesh) inscribed on it. 

Interestingly, when Priyanka donned the Palestinian bag on Monday, BJP MP Anurag Thakur had questioned what message she wanted to send across. "She did not speak a word on atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh but wants to make a fashion statement with the Palestine bag," he claimed. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had also targeted Priyanka over the development. "So far, more than 5,600 youth from Uttar Pradesh have gone to Israel for construction work. Every youth gets free food and accommodation besides a monthly salary of Rs 1.5 lakh there. There is also a full guarantee of safety," Adityanath said on the second day of the Winter Session of Uttar Pradesh Assembly.

Asked about BJP leaders raising the 'Palestine' bag issue, Priyanka Gandhi said, "Tell them that they should do something about the atrocities that are happening on minorities -- Hindus and Christians -- in Bangladesh. Talk to the Bangladesh government and stop these atrocities."

What Priyanka Gandhi's office said about her bags

When Priyanka Gandhi showed up with the Palestine-themed bag, it was a surprise for many of her Congress colleagues. They told Manorama Online that it was a genuine surprise as they had no clue about her plan to express solidarity with the oppressed country. Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden had said that the Wayanad MP was the brain behind the plan although a team was available to assist her. 

According to Manorama Online, Priyanka Gandhi's office confirmed that the bag's design was her own idea. When asked if her son Raihan Vadra, known for his artistic skills, was in the mix of things, the MP's office said that they didn't know if the youngster contributed to the bag's design.

However, Congress MPs were told by their party to join Gandhi in expressing solidarity with the minorities of Bangladesh the second day by carrying similar bags, Idukki MP Dean Kuriakose told the Malayalam daily. 

Priyanka Gandhi's pro-Palestine stance

In June, Priyanka Gandhi had slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over what she had said were the Israel government's "genocidal actions" in Gaza. She Gandhi had said it was no longer enough to speak up for the civilians, mothers, fathers, doctors, nurses, aid workers, journalists, teachers, writers, poets, senior citizens and the thousands of innocent children who were being wiped out day after day by the "horrific genocide" taking place in Gaza.

"It is the moral responsibility of every right-thinking individual, including all those Israeli citizens who do not believe in hatred and violence, and every government in the world to condemn the Israeli government's genocidal actions and force them to stop," she had said in a post on X.

Their actions are unacceptable in a world that professes civility and morality, Gandhi had said.