NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi were on Saturday seen engaging in a short and heartfelt conversation during the tribute ceremony held to mark the 200th birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule on the Parliament premises.The interaction took place at a public event attended by top constitutional leaders, including President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President CP Radhakrishnan, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and other senior leaders, who gathered at Prerna Sthal to pay floral tribute to the social reformer.The brief exchange between Prime Minister Modi and Rahul Gandhi raised eyebrows, especially given the history of sharp political confrontation between the two leaders.This comes after both leaders have frequently attacked each other in public speeches and political rallies. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has in the past accused Prime Minister Modi of being a “compromising” leader and alleged that India’s foreign policy was being influenced externally.“Our foreign policy is Prime Minister Modi’s personal foreign policy… Everyone considers this a universal joke… Donald Trump knows exactly what Prime Minister Modi can and cannot do. If the Prime Minister is compromised, our foreign policy is compromised,” Rahul Gandhi had earlier said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also responded strongly to opposition criticism in the past, often indirectly mocking Rahul Gandhi during public rallies. In one such case, at a rally in Gogamukh, Assam, before the elections, Prime Minister Modi referred to the Congress leader as a “self-proclaimed prince”.“Rajkumar” (self-proclaimed prince), Prime Minister Modi had said while taking aim at Rahul Gandhi in an earlier public address.Earlier in the day, both leaders had separately paid tribute to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, one of India’s most prominent social reformers, known for his work on women’s education, caste equality and the empowerment of marginalized communities.President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi were among those who paid floral tributes at Prerna Sthal in Parliament.In his message on X, PM Modi praised Phule’s contribution to social justice and education, calling him a pioneer who empowered the marginalized through knowledge and reform.Rahul Gandhi, in his post on“On the birth anniversary of the great social reformer Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, I offer him my humble greetings. He dedicated his entire life to protecting the rights and prerogatives of the marginalized. His fight against discrimination and inequality showed the nation the path towards equality and justice,” said Rahul Gandhi.
Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, born on April 11, 1827 in Satara, Maharashtra, is widely regarded as a pioneer of India’s social reform movement. He, along with his wife Savitribai Phule, played a key role in advancing women’s education and challenging caste-based discrimination through the Satyashodhak Samaj.
