Rahul-Modi hug at No-Confidence motion: It is better to hug than cause havoc

New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi does not inspire me. He certainly is not my choice of a leader.  Yet Rahul going to PM and hugging  him after his speech which was sharp, critical and caused some tremor in the treasury  benches made some impact on me. The hug was a clear manifestation of an approach or method of opposition free from any ill will and acrimony. He made the point that an opponent need not be an enemy and opposition can be intense and not intimidatory.  

The hug reminded  the point often made by great personalities in history  that a fight can be devoid of rancour and bitterness and can be carried forward to its logical conclusion without causing violence either in thought or  deed.  It can be based on good will and good gesture without losing its effectiveness and engaging content. All over media and social media the hug of Rahul Gandhi became prominent in terms of its visual impact and victorious message. Some agreed with the hug and some were not humoured by it.

For whatever its worth it  has become central to the no confidence debate and vote in terms of its optics which may have violated unwritten rules of decorum. As some media person commented the treasury benches had the number,  the opposition had the narrative. And the hug of Rahul Gandhi gave the narrative an inclusive content and a much needed intent for engagement without considering some body as an enemy.  

A spontaneous hug to a prime minister who is well known for hugging world leaders outwitted him.  Has the hug   hoisted the triumph of good will over ill  will or has the hug  caused another hashtag in Indian politics and opened the avenues for rapprochement in the age of spiralling hatred and mob lynching? Whether the  hug is hailed or the hug is howled at, it is irresistible in terms of its visual impact.  A hug received in hushed silence honours the one who came forward with open arms to embrace one who wanted Congress Mukt Bharat. Whatever it may be the hug hovered the mind of those who invoked havoc of pre partition days.

It is indeed better to hug than cause havoc.