In an unexpected yet warm exchange, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi greeted each other during an unofficial tea meeting in the Parliament complex on Friday. This gathering followed the sine die adjournment of the Lok Sabha, a day ahead of the scheduled end of the Budget session.
The customary tea meeting, traditionally hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla after both Houses are adjourned, saw floor leaders of all political parties come together. According to attendees, the leaders exchanged greetings with a respectful “namaste” and posed for the cameras with smiles.
Prime Minister Modi was seated on a sofa next to Speaker Om Birla, while Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, took a chair to PM Modi’s right. Key ministers and MPs, including Kiren Rijiju, Piyush Goyal, and Chirag Paswan, along with opposition figures like Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Kanimozhi, were also present.
In a relaxed atmosphere, Rahul Gandhi engaged in a conversation with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, inquiring about the ongoing situation in Ukraine. Rajnath Singh assured him that India is closely monitoring developments in the region, reflecting the informal yet constructive tone of the gathering.
