However several Congress leaders came in support of the party vice president, some even going to the extent of showing a photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha from November last year to claim that it shows that he was also sleeping in the House.
Incidentally two wrongs do not make one right. But what was very interesting was the various suggestions that were put forward by the Congress leaders to prove that Rahul Gandhi was indeed not sleeping. Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said it was a false story and that checking one’s mobile was neither a crime nor negligence. Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury reportedly said that it is so hot outside that they close their eyes inside the House to relax and get relief from the burning sensation caused after standing in the sun outside. Someone else said that he was meditating. However the best person to throw light on the entire controversy would obviously be Rahul Gandhi himself. However the Congress vice-president has not made any statement in acceptance or denial.
Be that as it may, political parties appear to be making mountains of mole-hills. Obviously there are more important issues to debate on. However even TV news channels have used a major part of it’s news coverage on showing the video footage of a dozing Rahul Gandhi and even debating on the issue. It may be recalled that when the Congress vice-president was on a foreign trip for several days other political parties had made an issue of it.
In the past several political leaders have been caught on tape or by photographers while they were taking a nap in parliament. It is indeed a non-issue as some politicians may not be interested in the debate or the debate may be boring. Others may be exhausted or simply lazy. It seems that the politicians could be deprived of sleep. How then does one explain the fact that they fall asleep even when there is din in the House?
