Bhubaneswar: A symbolic gesture by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Aparajita Sarangi on Friday added a new dimension to the ongoing political discourse in Parliament.
Sarangi gifted Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra a bag with “1984 riots” prominently written in red, in a pointed response to Gandhi’s recent use of tote bags to convey political messages.
The exchange occurred in the corridors of Parliament, where Sarangi, the BJP MP from Bhubaneswar, handed the bag to Gandhi as she walked by. Gandhi accepted the bag without comment and continued on her way.
Sarangi later explained that the message on the bag was meant to highlight the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and urge Gandhi to address the issue, given her visible political statements made through similar accessories.
Earlier in the week, Priyanka Gandhi, the Congress MP from Wayanad, carried a tote bag with “Palestine” emblazoned on it to Parliament, signaling solidarity with the people of Palestine.
The following day, she was seen with another bag bearing the message, “Bangladesh Ke Hindu Aur Isaiyon Ke Saath Khade Ho” (Stand with the Hindus and Christians of Bangladesh), sparking political debate.
Sarangi’s gesture is the latest instance of symbolic actions being used to underscore political positions, adding a personal and visual element to parliamentary proceedings.
