Prime Minister Narendra Modi made headlines during Tuesday’s Lok Sabha session when he offered water to opposition MPs who were vigorously protesting and shouting slogans against the government in the Well of the House. The incident occurred while PM Modi was delivering his nearly 135-minute-long speech in response to the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address.
Despite continuous disruptions and heckling from opposition members, PM Modi remained composed and at one point, amidst the uproar, extended a gesture of goodwill by offering a glass of water to the protesting MPs. Surprisingly, one of the opposition MPs accepted the gesture, leading to a brief moment of calm amid the heated session.
The prime minister’s unexpected move quickly gained traction on social media, with many supporters praising his statesmanship and ability to maintain decorum in challenging circumstances. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, in a sarcastic comment, referred to PM Modi as “Modi the dictator” for offering water to the MPs who had interrupted his speech.
पानी पी पी कर सुनाना तो देखा था, पानी पिलाकर सुनाना पहली बार देखा है।
pic.twitter.com/zwZymyd8Tq— Aman Chopra (@AmanChopra_) July 2, 2024
On platforms like X (formerly Twitter), reactions varied widely, with some users applauding PM Modi’s gesture as a display of leadership, while others saw it as a strategic response to the opposition’s disruptive tactics. One user described it as a “boss move” and highlighted the significance of PM Modi’s action in defusing tension during a tense parliamentary session.
During the session, PM Modi also engaged in a heated exchange with Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of making baseless allegations and attempting to disrupt parliamentary proceedings. Speaker Om Birla intervened to reprimand Rahul Gandhi for urging opposition members to enter the Well of the House in protest.
Later, the House passed a motion condemning the opposition’s behavior, moved by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and seconded by Home Minister Amit Shah, marking a contentious yet eventful day in Indian parliamentary history.